Newsletter Design by Jana Waite, School of Integrative Biology 2002 Department of Entomology University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Contents

Message from the Head ...... 4 Barkers Endow Insect Toxicology Chair ...... 5 Faculty ...... 6 Awards and Recognition ...... 13 In Search of Tibetan Bumble Bees ...... 15 For the Love of Insects ...... 16 Staff ...... 17 Affiliates and Other Academics ...... 18 Bee and Beekeeping Short Course ...... 23 Illinois Entomologists in the News ...... 24 Colloquium Speakers in 2001 and 2002 ...... 26 Graduate Students ...... 28 Recent Graduates ...... 37 Entomology Graduate Student Association ...... 38 Insect Expo ...... 39 18th Annual Insect Fear Film Festival...... 40 19th Annual Insect Fear Film Festival...... 42 Midwest Institute for Biological Control...... 44 2002 Distinguished Alumni Award ...... 45 Alumni ...... 46 Obituary ...... 52 Donors to Entomology, 2001-2002 ...... 53

Cover photo of exotic soybean aphid by Dave Voegtlin, Illinois Natural History Survey Newsletter design by Jana Waite, School of Integrative Biology 2002 Department of Entomology University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Entomology Newsletter-3 Message from the Head

May Berenbaum OUR goal of returning to an annual alumni academic year. We also hired an outstanding newsletter slipped by the wayside as 2001 faculty member in the relatively new field of raced by before I could wrestle it to the invasion biology—specifically, Andrew ground. Thus, this newsletter will cover Suarez, former master’s student with Scott about 22 months (all at no additional cost!). Robinson at UIUC who went on for doctoral As always, the first topic of concern is and postdoctoral work within the University reorganization, even 5 years after the fact. of California system. We’re happy to bring This was a transition year, in which the him back to his Midwest roots (his family is entomology rubric for courses was co-listed from Chicago). Andy’s appointment is split with the IB rubric; next year we’ll all have between Entomology and Animal Biology, to learn new numbers, a daunting prospect to accommodate his interests that extend in to those of us who still are a little fuzzy on various directions through trophic webs. the old ones. It’s also our first year without an entomology option—the College informed The annual joint meeting of the Society for us that no undergraduate options would be the Study of Evolution and the Society of permitted within the new integrative biology Systematic Biology was held for the first major. In my view, this is a spectacularly time here. The local arrangements commit- bad idea; the undergraduate option costs tee for the Evolution 2002 meeting consisted virtually nothing to run and it provided us almost entirely of Entomology faculty and close contact with a handful (admittedly affiliates—cochairs May Berenbaum and never very many) of extraordinary under- Stewart Berlocher, along with department graduates, many of whom went on to achieve members Jim Whitfield and Sydney Cameron, all kinds of distinction (including a affiliate Kevin Johnson, and Ken Paige and Churchill Fellowship and Entomological Stephen Downie (who have both collabo- Society of America awards). It seems to me rated with Entomology faculty). In case any- that cutting the options takes choice and one missed the point, the logo for the meeting, diversity away from the students—the two not inappropriately, was the western corn things that land grant universities are all earworm, Diabrotica virgifera, on a soybean about. I’m determined, however, to explore leaf, illustrating evolution in action (years of routes for recreating, redesigning, and/or rotating corn and soybeans have apparently reinstituting an entomology undergraduate selected for corn rootworms that oviposit in program on campus for the few enterprising soybean fields). In connection with the souls who feel that the best undergraduate meeting, Stewart organized a splendid education in biology comes with six legs. display highlighting Illinois contributions to the study of evolution—including Mazon Always a consideration for a small depart- Creek fossils (with Karlene Ramsdell’s ment is staffing, and, economic doldrums help) and Darwin’s correspondence with notwithstanding, 2001-2002 were growth Benjamin Walsh, first State Entomologist of years for us. We were extremely fortunate to Illinois. receive a $1.25 million gift from our generous alumnus Roy Barker and his wife Mary We look forward to seeing alumni at the Lou—two very remarkable people!— to annual meeting in Fort Lauderdale and we endow the Kearns, Metcalf and Flint Chair look forward to the challenges that 2003 in Insect Toxicology. A selection committee will bring (including that of getting the was appointed to identify candidates and newsletter back to an annual schedule!). campus visits will take place during this

Entomology Newsletter-4 Barkers Endow Insect Toxicology Chair

ROY J. and Mary Lou Criss Barker, of program in chemistry at Tucson, AZ, established the “C.W. Kearns, Illinois. Denied admission to C.L. Metcalf, and W.P. Flint Endowed Chair that program, he was encour- in Insect Toxicology” in September 2001. aged by C.W. Kearns, a This gift will support an endowed faculty pioneer in the field of insect position in the Department. A search com- toxicology at Illinois, to take mittee has been established to seek excellent graduate chemistry courses candidates for this chair. and major in entomology. A grant to study metabolism of Roy J. Barker (Ph.D. Entomology 1953) DDT in house flies funded grew up on a Missouri farm plagued with Barker’s Ph.D. thesis. He fleas, flies, armyworms, and grasshoppers. explored biological magnifica- An entomology 4-H Club introduced him to tion of DDT by earthworms the book Destructive and Useful Insects by and says it “established my Roy Barker C.L. Metcalf and W.P. Flint, professors of reputation in the booming entomology at the University of Illinois. insecticide industry as a trouble maker.” He Barker attended the University of Missouri enjoyed a career in industry as well as in on a Sears-Roebuck Scholarship ($15 a basic research. In retirement, Barker has month) and, after serving in World War II as been a civil air patrol pilot, a Silver Beaver an army cannoneer, graduated in agricul- Scoutmaster, and a volunteer naturalist with tural chemistry. He applied to the graduate the U.S. Forest Service.

Mary Lou Criss Barker earned a B.S. in home economics from Madison College (VA) in 1953 and an M.S. in deaf education from Gallaudet College (Washington, DC) in 1964. She taught deaf students in Vir- ginia, Arizona, and California. She also taught first and second graders in Tucson public schools and began playing the organ during her teaching career. She is still playing for church services in her retirement. Several projects, including working with school children, make retirement as busy as “working.”

The Barkers believe that Entomology is well situated to take advantage of expertise in chemistry, natural history, and biology to give the world safer and more effective insect pest management. The Department and the University are truly fortunate to have such loyal alumni and friends.

May Berenbaum and Roy Barker at the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum, Tucson, March 2002.

Entomology Newsletter-5 Faculty

May Berenbaum to mountains and cross-country skiing) and once in October 2001, to give a talk at the annual meeting of the Entomological MY professional life seems to be dictated by Society of Canada (and introduce our alliteration—coevolution as the central midwestern daughter to bodies of water theme, with an emphasis on caterpillars and more breathtaking than the Saline Ditch). coumarins. Along those lines, among the Perhaps the most memorable professional ongoing projects in the lab are examinations trip was the least alliterative one—spring of Canadian swallowtail metabolism of break 2002 took us to Las Vegas, Nevada, coumarins by Weimin Li, of coumarin- where, at the invitation of Dr. Steve Roberts, regulated gene expression in Papilio species I gave the Juanita Greer White annual by Becca Petersen and Cindy McDonnell lecture in biology and where, afterwards, (using, of course, CAT-reporter constructs), Richard and Hannah and I could see the of corn earworm detoxification of plant various and very sundry sights, including, allelochemicals by Xianchun Li, of carote- among others, magic shows, Siberian white noid sequestration in webworms by Mark tigers, fake volcanoes, an Impressionist art Carroll, and of Conium maculatum alkaloid exhibit, a fake Empire State Building, pyra- toxicity by Katy Lustofin. Even the new mid, and Eiffel Tower, and two different Fullbright postdoctoral associate in the lab ventriloquist shows. Afterward, we headed fits in alliteratively—Eva Castells has just Berenbaum south to University of Arizona, where I gave begun to investigate Culex mosquito meta- another seminar, and along the way, we saw bolism of leaf leachates. The always remark- the Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon (to able Art Zangerl and I have now expanded introduce our midwestern daughter to very our 20-year-long study of webworms and large holes in the ground), and Glen Oak wild parsnip to include cow parsnip (Hera- Canyon (near Sedona, site where “Kingdom cleum lanatum), a native North American of the Spiders” and innumerable other insect host acquired after European webworms fear films were shot). In Tucson, a special colonized this country; we’ve found that the treat was a personal tour of the Desert presence of a chemically distinct alternate Museum, courtesy of Roy Barker, our host can disrupt phenotype matching between department’s distinguished alumnus and webworms and wild parsnips, in a resound- generous benefactor. Roy, an amazing ing confirmation of John Thompson’s theory naturalist, appears to be personally ac- of the geographic mosaic of coevolution. quainted with every insect in the state of And we’re also involved in an ongoing Arizona. collaboration with Evan DeLucia, of Plant And, of course, no year would now be Biology, determining the effects of carbon complete without a visit to the annual Vent dioxide on herbivory and photosynthesis in Haven Ventriloquism Convention in Fort soybeans. Mitchell, Kentucky, where Hannah per- In 2001 and 2002, the alliteration even formed at the Junior Open Microphone extended to travel. Although we didn’t travel session and wowed the crowd by making the seven C’s, as it were, we did go to Whiskers the Cat cough up a hairball with- Canada twice—once during spring break out moving her lips. And just in case you get 2001 to Calgary and Edmonton, to give the impression that I never go anywhere that seminars (and, through the kindness and isn’t somehow connected to entomology, incredible generosity of “Nature Nut” John rest assured that I even found enough ento- Acorn, introduce our midwestern daughter mological content at the ventriloquism

Entomology Newsletter-6 convention to write a Buzzwords column less bees, evolved in a tropical environment. about it for the American Entomologist! Our findings in Peru (in press, Apidologie) led to an NSF proposal (in collaboration with Lars Chittka, University of London) to Stewart Berlocher carry out the next stage of the research—to find out if foragers returning to the colony THINGS are still busy at the Berlocher’s. pass on information to nestmates about the Paul is 4 and Austin is 9, but it seems like location of a food source. more. Austin is still active in Cub Scouts, I am also involved in molecular phyloge- but has also developed a major interest in netic analyses of orchid bee and bumble bee Taekwondo. Paul loves imitating his big relationships. I was awarded a Research brother, and being incredibly active. Board grant to initiate a phylogeographic Research is going pretty well. Remark- study of the large orchid bees (Eulaema) ably, we keep getting more and better endemic to the Chocó region of Colombia; evidence that the apple host race of however, that project is on hold until the Rhagoletis pomonella is genetically distinct political situation in the region improves. I from the ancestral hawthorn race. We may am working with Kevin Moulton (North even be on the track of a “speciation gene.” Carolina State) on the development of a new Life in Urbana is good, and as I tried to nuclear gene that can be applied to ongoing say in my rather cryptic note in the last analyses of phylogenetic relationships among newsletter, you can even get enchiladas here the corbiculate bees. now. Regards to all my former students out I have two new students, both of whom there, and don’t be strangers. think bees are cool. Heather Hines arrived last March from the University of Iowa, Berlocher fresh from a double major in biology and Sydney Cameron anthropology, to work on bumble bee systematics and ecology. She spent the first half of the summer learning how to raise I’VE been in the Department for a year and bumble bees and the second half traipsing I love it! Although it’s been busy enough through the Pyrenees and Turkey in search that I’ve barely had time to catch my breath, of bumble bee species. In the company of the activities have been challenging and fun. Pierre Rasmont (University of Brussels) she I arrived to a newly renovated (humongous brought back 50 (yes 50!) new species for effort by many) lab (half of the old Metcalf the phylogeny project. We are constructing a Cameron lab) and office. Thanks to the efforts of all worldwide phylogeny of the genus (240 involved it was easy to set up and get to species), which will lay the groundwork for work right away. comparative studies of behavior. We are As my research focuses on the behavior working on this project with Paul Williams and systematics of the non-Apis tropical of the Natural History Museum in London. corbiculate bees (bumble bees, stingless My second student, John Kane, came from bees and orchid bees), I spent 2 weeks last UC-San Diego by way of a year’s experi- October on the Tambopata River in the ence working for a biotech company in Peruvian Amazon studying recruitment California. As an undergrad, John spent behavior with three students. We learned some time studying stingless bees in Costa that foragers of the Amazonian bumble bee Rica, and is getting his feet wet in the lab by (Bombus transversalis) enlist other foragers sequencing diverse genera of stingless bees. in the colony to leave the nest in search of John is an accomplished pianist and has food. This study was the initial phase of promised to give us a concert before the research to test the hypothesis that complex bees take over his life. communication systems in bees, such as those found in honey bees and some sting-

Entomology Newsletter-7 Faculty The year finished up with a collecting of applications. Write-ups have appeared expedition to the Tibetan Plateau of south- recently in The Economist and Forbes ASAP. (continued) western China (Sichuan Province) in the On the home front, the big news is that company of Jim Whitfield, Paul Williams, after 28 years in the same home, Nancy and and Xuexin Chen (Zhejiang University). I moved last year. The impetus was the pro- Heather beat us on the species count, but we liferation of apartment buildings in our were still extraordinarily successful in neighborhood. We now live a bit south of bringing home 37 of the 45 species known Urbana on 5 acres, half wooded and half that from that region. It was a fantastic trip—an we will turn into wetlands and prairie. Talk ideal way to end a great year. about a change in life style!

Fred Delcomyn Susan Fahrbach

WEARING the two hats of an Entomology THE past 2 years have offered the pleasures faculty member and Director of the School of major tasks completed and new projects of Integrative Biology can be challenging, to initiated. Much of what consumed my atten- say the least. One of the challenges is to tion was only indirectly related to research. I explain to faculty the rationale for con- spent much of fall 2002 writing a competi- straints that being in a School may put on tive renewal proposal for our HHMI educa- departmental activities. This is not always tion grant and then spent the winter and easy. The flip side, pointing out the benefits spring worrying that my efforts had been for the department, is considerably more inadequate. Happily, HHMI has agreed to Delcomyn pleasant. This year, with the search for a send us another $1.7 million for the next 4 suitable candidate to fill the C.W. Kearns, years. Only 44 of 189 invited applications C.L. Metcalf and W.P. Flint Endowed Chair were funded! in Insect Toxicology in full swing, it is nice Also on the education front, Evan DeLucia to be able to point out that the School of and I received a $400,000 NSF award to Integrative Biology and the other depart- initiate an Undergraduate Mentoring in ments in the School will contribute substan- Environmental Biology Program. Nine tially toward the startup costs associated students entered the program this summer with bringing in a prominent new faculty and all had productive field seasons…so I guess someone is doing research. Fahrbach member, making it possible for us to recruit the best possible person for the Chair I also developed the new IB 150 course without Entomology having to worry about and taught it both semesters of the 2001- breaking the bank. 2002 academic year. In spring I doubled up Research continues to progress. A collabo- on IB 150 and Insect Physiology (ENTOM ration with Chang Liu, a faculty member in 310), which was definitely an interesting Electrical and Computer Engineering, challenge. But it was hard to feel overbur- established several years ago, has received dened because of the happy news of the nice publicity recently, mostly due to award of high priority to the Honey Bee Chang’s efforts. The collaboration has the Genome Project (see Gene Robinson’s write objective of developing a biologically up for details!). mimetic sensor to be used for robots. The Early summer also brought the publication sensor is designed to emulate a class of of the massive 5-volume Hormones, Brain, sense organs called hair cell receptors, one and Behavior (Academic Press), for which I type of which is prominent in insects. Using served as co-editor. The past years have also the biological structure as a model, Chang seen the development of the first Brain has designed a device that will sense fluid Awareness Week activities on campus, an flow and that has great potential in a variety event I hope eventually becomes as well-

Entomology Newsletter-8 established as the Insect Fear Film Festival. contaminated huge quantities of supposedly In the lab, Anne-Marie Cziko helped us “organic” meat. Apparently it is legally used develop protocols to use a robot to perform on wheat in Poland, and treated wheat was in situ hybridization, Rodrigo Velarde somehow fed to animals on “organic” farms initiated new studies of nuclear hormone in eastern Germany. I am also continuing to receptors in the honey bee brain, Joe Sullivan study the effects of dietary constituents on went to medical school, Kym Rosiak DNA with Lane Rayburn, but our focus has finished her dissertation research and gradu- shifted from contaminants to dietary supple- ated, and Nyla Ismail, a new neuroscience ments (the so-called nutraceuticals) and program student, started some intriguing their interactions with chemotherapeutic studies on neurochemical regulation of agents. This project has some practical structural plasticity in the honey bee brain. applications, since apparently people with Summer 2002 brought meetings in Sapporo, cancer are more likely than most other Japan, and Oxford, UK. Past, present, and segments of the population to use nontradi- future Illini (the future in the person of tional medicines. Andy Suarez) were well represented at these meetings, causing me to reflect once again how fortunate we are to have such outstand- Larry Hanks ing colleagues and students. THE big news in the Hanks lab is that the first two students to leave the lab have Bettina Francis landed jobs. Rob Moore completed his master’s degree last fall and is now a IT is a real pleasure to this note that this medical entomologist for the US Army Francis update comes from the 6th floor of Morrill stationed in San Antonio, TX. Rob will soon Hall! I moved in January 2000, with the move to Maryland where his work will usual amazement at how much junk I had focus on West Nile virus in the northeastern saved in a mere 10 years (and the usual US. Jodie Ellis finished her master’s thesis decision to hold on to most of it, “just in this spring and has accepted a position as case”). My sons have also moved again in gypsy moth coordinator and educator for the the interim—considerably farther than I! Department of Entomology at Purdue Alex and Elaine finished their 3-year stay in University, West Lafayette, IN. The job is a Hong Kong this summer, and are now at perfect fit for Jodie, combining public Purdue University, where Alex has an relations, teaching, and research, and she is assistant professorship in Speech and thriving. The Purdue people rave about her Hearing Science. The “two body problem” every time I see them. It is enormously has been temporarily resolved because gratifying for me to see students moving on, Elaine will have a visiting appointment in launching their careers, and applying their the English department beginning in Janu- entomological training. ary. It is wonderful to have them so close. Our research program has continued to Meanwhile, Theo stayed in Dallas for only develop, despite losing two from our ranks. 4 months before moving to New York to John Tooker, the most senior student in the work for the Wall Street Journal. There is lab, has produced several publications. nothing dramatic to report about my re- John’s dissertation research focuses on gall search, which proceeds extremely slowly. wasps that inhabit the stems of Silphium We have not yet solved the question of how species in prairies. My second most senior nitrofen causes its unusual constellation of student, Matt Ginzel, is also progressing on malformations; on the other hand, I have not the research front. Matt studies the repro- given up yet! Nitrofen itself made headlines ductive behavior and semiochemicals of across Germany last summer, when it longhorned beetles. Peter Reagel completed

Entomology Newsletter-9 Faculty his master’s research project on aggregation a variety of projects on odorant receptor and mate location behavior in the red milk- proteins. Thus Ph.D. student Harland Patch (continued) weed beetle, another longhorned beetle. He continues working with our only receptor has shifted gears in his dissertation research, from Manduca sexta, as well as a couple studying interguild interactions among from the honey bee. We’ve been involved in natural enemies of armored scale insects. studies of the molecular evolution of the Emerson Lacey is nearing completion of his entire insect chemoreceptor superfamily of master’s research on mating behavior and odorant and gustatory receptors revealed by semiochemicals of another longhorned the Drosophila melanogaster genome beetle, the red-headed ash borer. Graduate sequences, as well as those in the recently student Ashley Bennett will be completing finished Anopheles gambiae genome (140- her master’s this fall. She is conducting an 150 proteins each). Ph.D. student Lauren experiment funded by USDA-NRI that evalu- Kent has joined the lab to study the latter. ates the potential for suppressing infesta- Other projects concern chemoreceptors in tions of herbivorous insects by encouraging corn rootworms and other insects, as well as natural enemies with flowering forbs that nematodes. provide nectar and pollen for the adults. Erin My 16-year-old stepson, Gabriel, is taking Grossman is in the process of writing her driving lesson so we are entering that interest- master’s thesis and is determined to finish ing transition. Our 4-year-old daughter, this fall so she can join her husband who Erica, finally has permission to climb into now has a job in Maryland. Erin is an NRES the treehouse on her own and is loving it. student and has been studying how the We had a great month-long trip around physical structure of ornamental landscapes Alaska this summer and went to South Africa Robertson influences vigor of ash trees and resistance to visit my family last summer (2001). to herbivorous insects. On the personal front, my wife Jean and I have almost completely adapted to the Mid- Gene Robinson west and only whine about the winter during January and February, rather than from GREETINGS! The past 2 years have seen October to April. In fact, we are so well intensified activity towards putting the new adapted that we have produced two Mid- and amazingly powerful science of genomics western children: Rebecca turns 4 in Octo- to work to understand the marvelous com- ber and Mason is 15 months old. Both are Robinson plexity of honey bee social behavior. We blissfully unaware of mountains and dry now have a “gene chip” that can monitor the heat. activity of about half of the bee genes, and are starting to use it to discover which, and how many, genes change their activity to Hugh Robertson orchestrate behavior. Our initial findings are very exciting and promise to change the way THE past 2 years have seen my laboratory we think about behavior. It seems to be focus even more on the molecular basis of heavily dependent upon genomic activity, to insect olfaction, while reducing our efforts a much greater extent than anyone imagined. on transposons. Our transposon work now Encouraged by these developments, I spear- involves studies of a series of 10 genes in headed an effort to gain approval for the the human and other mammalian genomes “whole enchilada”–the complete sequencing derived from transposons. One of these is of the honey bee genome. With department just 50 Myr old, while another is 90 Myr colleagues Susan Farhbach and Hugh old, and in these two cases we can study the Robertson and an international consortium, transformation of the transposon to host gene. a White Paper was submitted to the National Our work on insect olfaction now involves Human Genome Research Institute. On May

Entomology Newsletter-10 22, 2002, we learned that the honey bee was written when I last reported to you in the among six organisms selected for genome Entomology Newsletter, is now almost sequencing! We are all very excited about complete. In fact, I’ve already sent the the amazing prospects for discovery now corrected page proof back to my editor at open to us all. The study of the genetic basis Harvard University Press. The last thing I of social behavior is a frontier area and we will have to do with What Good Are Bugs? believe that the honey bee can make impor- will be checking the index that I will soon tant contributions. Other highlights included receive from the professional indexer who two trips to Japan for conferences and a has worked with me since my first book, quick trip to Denmark to plan a new re- which came out in 1996. Now I am keeping search collaboration. A special personal busy with my sixth book. I don’t know what milestone was reached this year–our oldest its title will be, but it will be a series of son, Aaron, who as a toddler used to enjoy essays on pest insects– not just any pest, but riding in our lab cart up and down the halls species that are particularly interesting and on occasional visits to Morrill Hall, turned give me the opportunity to make an impor- 16, and yes, you guessed it, is no longer tant biological point about evolution, riding a cart but instead driving a car. reproduction, survival, feeding, ecology, the Sternburg nature of pest insects, and the principles of their control. I have written six of the 20-25 James G. Sternburg (emeritus) essays, and will soon send an outline and a few samples essays to my publisher for THE Field Guide to the Butterflies of Illinois, approval. written by John Bouseman and me, has been I am not always writing. Most weekends, very well received. We have been encouraged especially during the migration, I go birding to prepare a guide to the saturniid moths of in some of my favorite spots in central Illinois, to be published by the Illinois Illinois. At least once a year I travel to one Waldbauer Natural History Survey, and it is now in or more birding “hot spots” in North America. press. With James Wiker, an authority on On St. Paul, one of the Pribilof Islands in skippers, we are working on a field guide to the Bering Sea, I saw 13 species of birds the Illinois species of these difficult butter- that were new to my “life list.” At a state flies. We have photographs of museum park in the lower Rio Grande Valley of specimens of all the Illinois species, and Texas I saw another bird that was new to photographs of about half of them in nature. me, the blue bunting, which occasionally We expect to complete the text this fall to be strays across the border from Mexico. Trips submitted for review. to the mid-Atlantic coast, Florida, and Lakes Ontario and Erie in Ontario yielded no lifers, Whitfield but were a delight because I was with a good Gil Waldbauer (emeritus) friend and saw many interesting birds.

IN the last newsletter I told you that my fourth book, Millions of Monarch, Bunches Jim Whitfield of Beetles, How Bugs Find Strength in Numbers, had been published by Harvard IT seems incredible to me now that it has University Press in March 2000. Since all been only 1 year since we arrived to settle in play and no work makes Gil a dull boy, I the newly (or I should say for that time continue to write and can be found in my nearly) completed insect systematics little office in Morrill Hall almost any day laboratories that replaced the Metcalf lab of the week, except when I am off on a across from May’s area. The transition was birding trip. My fifth book, What Good Are thankfully a smooth one, in which not only Bugs? Insects in the Web of Life, partially ourselves, but a team of three graduate

Entomology Newsletter-11 Faculty students, a postdoc, and two active federal (Alejandro); and to establish some collabo- grants made it safely and happily to Illinois. rative projects on neotropical parasitoid (continued) It has indeed been an eventful year from the wasp diversity with Mike Sharkey from the get-go, starting with teaching Insect Classi- University of Kentucky and Dan Janzen fication to an oversize class within 3 days of from the University of Pennsylvania. A 6- arrival, and ending the year with a month- month stay in the lab by Dr. Xuexin Chen long scientific expedition to China! In from Zhejiang University led not only to between, the Whitfield lab found time for collaborative taxonomic projects but to his research visits to museums and fieldwork on accompanying us on part of the China field- several continents, conducting morphology- work. With the usual NSF panels and editorial based and molecular systematic research on duties, it has all added up to a packed year! parasitoid wasps and associated viruses, (Not to mention moving houses.) helping host the Evolution 2002 meetings As fall 2002 begins, we have a new (in which I co-organized a workshop on USDA-funded project starting (on the Network Methods in Phylogeny), and getting development of interactive identification involved with the Program in Ecology and keys for parasitoids in the genus Cotesia), Evolutionary Biology and systematics and I am co-teaching Principles of System- activities at the Survey and across campus. atics; Alejandro and Won-Young are TAing From a research perspective, the main or assisting with courses. We have had to projects in the lab this year were to examine say goodbye (at least temporarily) to Alice the coevolution between polydnaviruses and and her husband Fabien, but look forward to braconid wasps using DNA sequence data interactions with Sydney Cameron’s grow- (with postdoc Alice Michel-Salzat); to con- ing contingent of students, as well as with duct systematic revisions of the wasp family the larger systematics and evolution and Evaniidae (Andy Deans) and the braconid entomological communities on campus. I wasp genera Deuterixys (with Maria-Teresa for one also look forward to more frequent Oltra at the University of Valencia), Diolco- guitar-playing gatherings with Stewart gaster (Won-Young Choi), Hypomicrogaster Berlocher, Larry Hanks, and Jeff Haas! (Alejandro Valerio), Microplitis, and Mirax

Entomology Newsletter-12 Awards and Recognition

Amy L. Toth: Francis M. & Harlie M. Clark Faculty and Affiliates Research Support Grant; John G. & Evelyn Hartman Heiligenstein Outstanding Teaching May Berenbaum: National Associate, National Assistant in Biology 120; Program in Ecology Academy of Sciences/National Research & Evolutionary Biology Summer Research Council; elected Fellow, Entomological Grant; Program in Ecology & Evolutionary Society of America Biology Travel Grant; Program in Ecology & Susan Fahrbach: Elected Fellow, American Evolutionary Biology Symposium Awards, Association for the Advancement of Science. Best Doctoral Presentation Michael Gray: 2002 Senior Faculty Award for Alejandro A. Valerio: Francis M. & Harlie M. Excellence in Extension, College of Agricul- Clark Research Support Grant tural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences, James N. Zahniser: Herbert Holdsworth Ross University of Illinois Memorial Fund Award Sue Ratcliffe: Professional Staff Award for Excellence in Innovation and Creativity Rob Wiedenmann: Service Recognition Award Undergraduates

Lori Kae Schwab: 2002 Pfizer Summer Graduate Student Awards Undergraduate Research Fellowship Award (one of only two students selected from the University of Illinois), Undergraduate Excel- Andres Deans: Herbert Holdsworth Ross lence Award, Entomological Society of Memorial Fund Award America Lesley S. Deem: Ellis MacLeod/DuPont Award Katarzyna Jez: Entomology Undergraduate for Outstanding Teaching by a Graduate Achievement Award, SIB Student in the Department of Entomology Jodie A. Ellis: Program in Ecology & Evolution- ary Biology Travel Grant Matthew D. Ginzel: Francis M. & Harlie M. Staff Award Clark Research Support Grant; Herbert Holdsworth Ross Memorial Fund Award; Jacqueline S. Bowdry: 15-year Service Award Program in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Steven R. Buck: 2002 Chancellor’s Distin- Travel Grant guished Staff Award Jeffrey S. Heilveil: Francis M. & Harlie M. Letitia L. Cundiff: 10-year Service Award Clark Research Support Grant Becca Petersen: Entomological Foundation Lillian & Alex Feir Travel Grant, NSF Teachers Graduate Student Travel Award, Dissertation Research Grant, Proctor & Gamble Company Ranked Excellent by their Students for Life Graduate Student Research Award Finalist, Sciences Courses Taught in Spring, Graduate College Conference Travel Grant Summer & Fall 2001 Sheila A. Lyons-Sobaski: Harold C. & Sonja L. Labinsky Award Barbra-Ria Barrido, Ashley Bennett, May David Schulz: Eastern Apicultural Society Berenbaum, Kate Best, Julie Cianfrogna, Erin Student Award, Entomological Foundation Grossman, Larry Hanks, Terry Harrison, Lilian & Alex Feir Travel Grant, 2002 Jeffrey Heilveil, Emerson Lacey, Robert Eickwort Award (IUSSI) Novak, Peter Reagel, Katharina Rothwangl, John F. Tooker: Harley J. Van Cleave Fellow- Amy L. Toth, James Whitfield ship; Philip W. Smith Memorial Fund Award; Program in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Travel Grant

Entomology Newsletter-13 In Search of Tibetan Bumble Bees

Sydney Cameron BESIDES pos- phylogeny of the bumble bees over the next sessing a fascinat- 3 years. ing social system and serving as We began our collecting expedition in mid- model organisms July: me, Jim Whitfield, and Paul Williams for research on of the Natural History Museum in London. foraging behavior, We arrived in the provincial capitol of division of labor, Chengdu and connected with a Chinese recruitment, and collaborator, Dr. Tang Ya of the Chengdu mimicry, bumble Institute of Biology, who had arranged car bees have taken and driver, and a route that would take us me around the over 3700 km of primitive roads and maxi- world to some of mize the number of species we would bring the remotest home. regions on the planet. Twenty- It was a glorious 2 weeks, traveling along five years ago mostly unpaved roads through high grass- when I made my land valleys (3500–4000 m elevation) first trip into the blanketed in wildflowers as far as the eye (or Amazon Basin of binoculars, for that matter) could see. Some Peru to study of the valleys are 70 km wide and run on for birds (bugs were hundreds of km, with only the occasional an unknown to yak herd or black tents of the nomadic Goloks me then), little did I know that one day I to interrupt the sweeping vistas across the would return to the same area to carry out immense space to distant mountains. The research on a little known species of bumble vastness of these flowering meadows is bee (Bombus transversalis, the Amazonian incomprehensible, even while standing in bumble bee), found only in Amazonia. their midst. The hum of bumble bees is a familiar and comforting sound way out However, lest you think the Amazon is there. remote, visit the Tibetan Plateau of Sichuan in southwestern China! Sparsely populated In this setting, we collected 37 of the 45 by Tibetan cowboys, yaks, and the occa- known species of bumble bees in southwest- sional Buddhist lama (as in Dalai Lama) on ern China. The flowers are as diverse as the a motorcycle, northwestern Sichuan is wild bees, including the highest diversity of and mountainous. The Chinese call Sichuan Pedicularis (lousewort) in the world, along the ‘Heavenly Kingdom,’ a reference to its with Aconitum (monkshood), Delphinium bountiful resources, spectacular rivers and (larkspur), edelweiss, and many others. mountains, and rich culture spanning more Collecting by day, stopping in small villages than 2500 years of human history. Home to for the night, we covered 3700 km from the protected giant panda, golden langur, Chengdu, north over the Qionglai Shan and snow leopard, northwestern Sichuan range to Zöige near the Gansu border, east also possesses among the largest and most to the Min Shan mountains and south diverse bumble bee faunas on earth. This through the country of the Qiang people was a critical collecting destination for my along the Min He River. lab, which plans to complete a worldwide

Entomology Newsletter-14 Our route climbed over several high (>4000 drew the line at pickled yak meat, yak milk, m) passes into alpine meadows surrounded and butter tea. The vegetables were the real by distant mountains with stunning glaciers. treat; many of them we could not identify In the early spring these high passes are but enjoyed nonetheless. This is but a small covered in miles of flowering Rhododendron. glimpse of the vast Tibetan landscape of southwestern China, but for anyone search- Everyone delighted in the spicy food (watch ing out distant landscapes, relatively un- out for the flower peppers!), for which this touched and unchanged by the modern region of China is famous, although we world, I guarantee you a grand adventure.

Entomology Newsletter-15 For the Love of Insects

Gil Waldbauer UNIVERSITY professors love their work, finished it? I did not want my manuscript to and many keep on working even after they arrive unannounced and be consigned to a retire–so it was with me. I always felt that I pile of other manuscripts that had “come in was being paid to do my hobby, to immerse over the transom.” First I went to bookstores myself in the study of natural history, my to find out who was publishing books like passion since early childhood. How could I the one I was writing. I made a list of ten. give that up? Then I went to our wonderful reference library to see what I could find out about I had always thought that scientists should these publishers. I called the science editors do more to acquaint the general public with of all ten publishers and explained my sci- the processes of research and how the new entific credentials and that I was writing a discoveries help people to understand them- popular book on the biology of insects. selves and their world. In this time of runaway Would they be interested in seeing an out- population growth and consequent environ- line and a few sample chapters? Almost all mental degradation, it is important that people of them said yes. other than biologists understand biology, especially evolution and ecology. In Millions After receiving the materials, Princeton of Monarchs and Bunches of Beetles, I wrote: University Press said it would publish my “Evolution is the central and unifying concept book if I “made it more scientific.” I said no of biology, the science of life, the science thank you because that would put my book through which we seek to understand ourselves out of reach of the general public. Harvard and our fellow creatures, to know where we University Press accepted my manuscript came from, what we are, and how we are just as it was. They have published so far inextricably bound to all other life on earth.” three of my books: Insects Through the Seasons, Birder’s Bug Book, and Millions of I soon decided to write a book that would be Monarchs and Bunches of Beetles. intelligible to non-biologists, and that would give people at least a glimpse of what biology I just finished going over the page proof of is all about. I would write about what I What Good are Bugs, Insects in the Web of know best, the natural history and ecology Life. It will be out next March. I am still of insects. I would tell interesting stories, writing because I love it. I have written but also use insects to illustrate biological several chapters of my next book, which will principles. be a series of 20 or so essays on pest insects that are particularly interesting because they I began during a sabbatical leave not long illustrate some principle of biology in before I retired. I had always found writing general or entomology in particular. to be enjoyable, but I soon found that writing for non-biologists is not as easy as writing Harvard University Press has been wonder- for biologists who understand the basics of ful. My editor, the best at the press, has the science and the arcane scientific jargon. greatly improved my manuscript. The book With some difficulty I learned to give what I designer has produced beautiful books. She hope are clear and readily understandable— won first prize at the New England Book although sometimes simplified—explanations Fair for her design of the Birder’s Bug Book. of biological principles and to translate Because all the people at Harvard University much of the jargon into ordinary English. Press have been wonderfully helpful I But who would publish the book when I recently turned down an offer to do a book for another publisher.

Entomology Newsletter-16 Staff

Jackie Bowdry

FIRST I would like to thank all of you who were so supportive and understanding during my medical leave. Though, I’m not all the way out of the woods yet, I can’t complain. A special thanks to Dottie Nadarski, who put her leadership ability to the forefront and kept our office functioning without interruption. I value and respect her as a co- worker and as a person. Dottie definitely has the right stuff. Also, to the one who got away—Leta Nugent—thanks for your organizational skills and willingness to Bowdry, Nadarski, share them with us. Until we meet again. be employed for a couple of weeks.I can and Nugent (l to r) hardly believe that almost 10 years have passed. I became a permanent part-time Todd Fulton secretary in May 1994. My secretarial duties have changed over the years, but I still look I’VE worked in the insectory for 14 years. I forward to coming to work every day. I feel took the job as a student and have just stuck fortunate to work with the faculty, staff, and with it. I work full time at Carle as an R.N. graduate students here. In 1993 my daughter with Dr. Donna Beck, who specializes in Mary was in 2nd grade; in June 2003, she pediatric infectious diseases, and Dr. Ben will graduate from high school and hope- Robbins, who specializes in pediatric cardiol- fully be a student here at Illinois. My ogy. I have four children. Chad (25) is daughter Kathy, in kindergarten in 1993, married and a Champaign Co. deputy. Andy will get her driver’s license in July 2003. (22) is currently searching for his purpose. Time flies! My husband Bob is the general Rachel (19) is in school here to become a manager for Worden-Martin Lincoln, forensic pathologist and works part-time at Mercury, and GMC in Champaign. CVS as a pharmacy technician. Kelly Marie is 10 going on 20. She loves softball, reading, and is in band. My wife Vickie is also a Leta Nugent nurse and works for Health Alliance. She loves gardening, is a habitual house cleaner, I started at the Department in late February and is the love of my life. In my free time I 2002. In the short time that I have been here, enjoy the outdoors–hunting, fishing, and I’m I have learned many things about the Uni- actually starting to enjoy “yard work.” versity and about entomology. I would like to convey a big thank you to the staff for all of their help, support, and laughs. Without Dottie Nadarski them I would still feel like a fish out of water. Also, thank you to the faculty and WHEN I walked into the Department of students for your support and keeping me Entomology in January 1993 as an extra- busy. I’ve enjoyed my stay in Entomology help secretary I was informed that I would and look forward to what the future holds.

Entomology Newsletter-17 Affiliates and Other Academics

Samuel N. Beshers taking advantage of the knowledge and expertise of Berenbaum’s lab on P450s but pursuing a new line of research which THIS summer I became the Program Coor- promises to be really exciting. dinator for Neuroscience, a large and active I was born and raised in Barcelona, with a interdisciplinary program that involves mild Mediterranean climate where good several faculty and students from Entomol- food and culture are almost always avail- ogy as well as numerous other departments able. I love to travel as much as I can. I’ve on campus. I continue to be associated with been to Alaska a couple of times, and, Gene Robinson’s lab, and since the last before coming here, to Okayama (Japan) newsletter have collaborated on a model of where Francesc, my husband, was holding a division of labor in honey bees and a review postdoctoral position, and where our son Gil paper on models of division of labor in was born. We all expect to have a great time social insects. I am combining insights in C-U. gained through these efforts with experi- mental studies on leafcutting ants to explore new directions in the study of division of Chris Dietrich labor, from models of individual behavior to colony life history strategies. ENTOM 301 was offered again in summer 2002; in its 4th MY family and I recently made the jump Beshers year the course drew 21 students, all of them across the ideological divide, moving from well above average, who enjoyed learning our home of 7 years in NW Champaign to about insects in class and in the field, and 903 S. Race St. in the heart of Urbana. With doing their own research projects with ants. postdoc Roman Rakitov and students Jesse Albertson and Jamie Zahniser, I am continuing work on the phylogeny and classification of leafhoppers and treehoppers (Membra- Eva Castells coidea). Study of rainforest canopy fogging samples indicates that there are approxi- I think it’s better to admit it from the Eastman mately 118,000 undescribed species of beginning: I’m not an entomologist. Even membracoids in the tropics. Based on our worse, I’ve never taken an entomology class current average output of 127 new species nor have I been particularly interested in described per year, it should only take us insects. But offered the opportunity to work about 930 years to finish a monograph of the with May Berenbaum after completing my world fauna of this group. Ph.D. in plant ecology, I didn’t hesitate. I’ve been interested in chemical ecology and the coevolutionary processes between plants Cathy Eastman and herbivores and I think spending a 2-year postdoctoral position in Berenbaum’s lab is MY research is in the areas of alternatives to going to be a wonderful and productive pesticides, management of pest complexes time. I am studying the alkaloid patterns of in vegetable systems, and insect-weed and poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) in insect-pathogen interactions. With collabo- plants experiencing a variety of herbivory rators at the Illinois Natural History Survey regimes to learn more about plant-insect and the University of Illinois, we are starting coevolution. I also am studying the effects a long-range research and education proof phenolic compounds leached from litter gram on pest management and production on cytochrome P450s in mosquito larvae,

Entomology Newsletter-18 concerns in organic vegetable systems. Part Jared Schroeder (influence of wheat on of this research will be conducted on a newly western corn rootworm oviposition). In May designated Survey field site near the Univer- 2002, Silvia Rondon completed her Ph.D. sity’s Cruse Vegetable Research Farm. and accepted a postdoctoral position at the Evaluation of different approaches to opti- University of Florida, Gainesville. mize the process of the 3-year transition from conventional to organic production will be one of our research objectives. Kevin Johnson

I’VE recently received NSF grants to work Michael Gray on louse (Phthiraptera) systematics. The first project uses molecular and morphological I’VE been at Illinois since March 1988. My data to reconstruct a phylogeny for avian primary appointment is in the Department of Ischnocera (feather lice). This phylogeny Gray Crop Sciences, with responsibilities split will be used to study major niche shifts in between applied research and IPM extension feather lice. The second project is a taxo- and outreach programs. In April 2001, I be- nomic and phylogenetic revision of the came grants manager for the USDA-CSREES feather louse family Goniodidae to examine North Central Region IPM Competitive coevolutionary history with their hosts. I Grants Program. In May 2002, I also became have also expanded my work to examine the Associate Head for Crop Sciences. origin of parasitism in lice, by exploring the In March 2002, I became President of phylogenetic relations of Phthiraptera with ESA’s North Central Branch. This upcoming respect to Psocoptera (book and bark lice). year, I’m looking forward to working with Johnson Robert Wiedenmann, who is serving as program chair for the NCB meeting to be Jim B. Nardi held in Madison, WI, on March 23-26, 2003. Kevin Steffey and I completed our service as I’M involved in several research projects program chairs for the National ESA meeting dealing with cellular and molecular aspects in San Diego, CA, on December 9-12, 2002. of insect biology: the molecular character- It was a great experience and a grand oppor- ization of olfactory binding proteins of tunity to meet many new entomologists insect antennae; the specialization of midgut from around the globe! cells for pheromone synthesis in bark beetles; Nardi I’ve continued to focus research efforts on the development of rapid and specific im- the change in the oviposition behavior of the munological method for analysis of mos- western corn rootworm. Since the mid 1990s, quito blood meals; the surface proteins of western corn rootworms in east central Illi- insect hemocytes that mediate the cellular nois have included soybean fields as suitable immune response of insects to parasitoids egg-laying sites. Traditionally, cornfields and other foreign bodies; and the microbes were the primary oviposition targets. Because found in alimentary tracts of soil anthropods corn rootworm larvae cannot survive on and their roles in nutrient cycling. soybean roots, crop rotation worked very well as a cultural management strategy for Nitao this univoltine pest of corn. James Nitao Students working on aspects of the variant western corn rootworm’s biology include Erica Carlson (interactions of soybean cyst THIS lengendary Berenbaum Lab alum nematode with western corn rootworm), returned home for a 1-year stint to isolate Chris Pierce (influence of crop development and identify metabolites of furanocoumarin on western corn rootworm oviposition), and detoxification in parsnip webworms. Need-

Entomology Newsletter-19 Affiliates less to say, he became an integral and indis- continuing in the insect pathology lab at the pensable member of the laboratory, getting Illinois Natural History Survey. This group (continued) his hands into all kinds of things, including of single-celled, eukaryotic parasites has coauthoring a paper debunking the carbon/ recently been genetically aligned with ento- nutrient balance hypothesis (Oikos), a paper mopathogenic fungi. Our host specificity reporting the identification of the aforemen- testing of gypsy moth microsporidia has tioned metabolites (J. Chemical Ecology), moved from the lab to the field, but since we and a manuscript on the effect of pollen don’t have permission yet to release them in donor on fruit photosynthesis. Alas, his stay North America, we are conducting fieldwork was too short. Now he’s a reviewer at the in Slovakia (where the gypsy moth and the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for microsporidia are indigenous) to determine Veterinary Medicine. His group is respon- effects on nontarget lepidopteran species. sible for regulating how pharmaceutical We are collaborating with the U.S. Forest companies manufacture drugs for animals. Service and scientists from Slovakia and Onstad Bulgaria. We are still conducting lab studies David Onstad to describe microsporidian species that para- sitize gypsy moths and to explore genetic changes that occur in isolated host popula- I am working in the Department of Natural tions. Gernot Hoch, a postdoctoral fellow Resources and Environmental Sciences. My from Universität für Bodenkultur, Vienna, primary activities over the past few years Austria, has spent the past year in the lab focus on insect resistance manangement for studying the effects of a polydnavirus, corn insects. My wife, Dawn Dockter, released by a parasitic braconid wasp during recently returned to graduate school to work Schneider oviposition, on the development of on her Ph.D. degree while studying mayflies. microsporidian disease in the gypsy moth host. A new direction has been the evaluation of nematode pathogens for use as Daniel Schneider biological control agents of the Asian longhorned beetle. Postdoc Declan Fallon is I have been continuing my work on the evaluating strains of five species of nema- metapopulation ecology of zebra mussels in todes for ability to kill and mature in the river ecosystems, examining the relation beetle larvae, as well as testing the cotton- between larval dispersal and adult popula- wood borer as a laboratory host to substitute Solter tions of the zebra mussel in the Illinois and for the quarantined ALB. Hudson River. I recently finished a project On a personal note, my husband Philip on the history of ecology, where I examined and I can no longer procrastinate doing the political context of aquatic biologist and much-needed repairs on our home; stripping entomologist Stephen Forbes’ ground- paint has become our major extracurricular breaking work on the “Lake as a Microcosm.” pastime. Our son Ravi, now 16, avoids I showed how Forbes’ research was influ- conscription by playing soccer and claiming enced by the local fishing cultures where he excessive homework assignments. worked and turn-of-the-century controver- Steffey sies around the agricultural development of the floodplain of the Illinois River. Kevin L. Steffey

I was elected Vice President-Elect of the Leellen (Lee) Solter Entomological Society of America for 2001- 2002 and served as ESA Program Co-Chair STUDIES of host specificity and host- with Mike Gray for the 2001 annual meeting. pathogen interactions of microsporidia are I continued investigations of the extent

Entomology Newsletter-20 and management of western corn rootworm tered there and in adjacent countries in larval damage in corn planted after soy- Central America. My colleagues translated it beans, areawide management of western into Spanish (the text will be in both lan- corn rootworms, surveys of alfalfa fields for guages) and it should be out soon. presence of alfalfa blotch leafminer (with Rob Wiedenmann and Jon Lundgren, INHS), and impact of soybean aphids on soybeans Rick Weinzierl in Illinois. I am also Executive Editor, Pest Management & Crop Development Bulletin MY current students are Kelly Cook and and directed the effort to redesign and re- Erin Marlow. Kelly is studying the popula- populate the IPM web site. tion dynamics of the corn flea beetle, the I welcomed son, Joshua, home on July 30, vector of Stewart’s bacterial wilt of sweet after he had served 2 years in the Peace corn. Her goal is to refine the criteria used to Corps in Russia. I also married Barbra Ria predict the likelihood of Stewart’s wilt out- Barrido on August 31, 2002. breaks by better understanding the recovery of beetle populations following heavy mor- tality in harsh winters. Erin is studying the Voegtlin Dave Voegtlin response of corn earworm moths (oviposition) and larvae (survival) to wild-type THE past 2 years have been considerably tomatoes high in sesquiterpene carboxylic busier than expected, due primarily to the acids. These tomatoes might be used as trap arrival of the soybean aphid in North America. crops to divert egg-laying from commercial This aphid, a native of China, Korea, and tomato cultivars. possibly Japan, has proved to be rather unpredictable. I have had the opportunity to be involved in a wide range of research Robert N. Wiedenmann Weinzierl relating to this species. As with other exotic invaders there are questions regarding move- IN my laboratory at the Illinois Natural ment, economic impact, seasonal biology, History Survey, we conduct basic and and taxonomy. As a specialist in aphids I applied research on biological control of have been the regional identification re- insects and weed pests, and on the biology source. After it became clear that the aphid of parasitic and predaceous insects. Over the was here to stay, classical biological control past 6 years, we have worked on biological efforts were proposed and I had the opportu- control of purple loosestrife, an invasive nity to spend 2 weeks in Japan in July 2001 wetland weed, using chrysomelid beetles. and almost 4 weeks there in August 2002 The project is showing signs of success at a Wiedenmann searching for natural enemies of the soybean number of wetland sites throughout the aphid. One parasite species, Aphelinus state. Related to this, a master’s students in albopodus, was successfully established in my lab has been determining the effects of quarantine facilities in Delaware after each invasion of wetlands by loosestrife on the trip as well as three species of flies. nesting success of wetland birds. We also Since the middle 1980’s I have been have studied garlic mustard, another inva- working with scientists in Costa Rica by sive weed, to get background data on the providing identifications of aphids collected plant prior to the eventual introduction of primarily in trapping programs associated weed biological control agents. Another with epidemiological studies. They recently recent project has been to determine effects obtained funding to publish a guide to the of transgenic crops on coleopteran natural winged aphids of Costa Rica. I wrote enemies, such as ground beetles and lady- descriptions and took photographs of about bird beetles. I still am looking at parasitic 60 species that are most commonly encoun- Hymenoptera that attack stemboring Lepi-

Entomology Newsletter-21 Affiliates doptera and continue to be interested in the organic food sector, and to provide an edu- use of novel host-parasite associations for cation opportunity for interested students. (continued) biological control. Art Zangerl Ed Zaborski THIS year I made a number of adjustments IN the Center for Economic Entomology, in the direction of my research. Although Illinois Natural History, I conduct research the parsnip webworm and wild parsnip on the ecology of soil invertebrates. I am remain the focus, new technologies are investigating the influence of insecticides being applied to their study. I’ve taken the and transgenic crops on soil invertebrate plunge into molecular biology, attempting to (especially soil mites and earthworms) and isolate and characterize the functions of decomposition processes in corn production genes in both organisms that mediate their systems. The soil is dominated by the interaction. The first line inquiry revolves decomposer food web, which derives most around the role of cytochrome P450s, which of its food and energy from dead plant resi- are employed by the insect to detoxify dues. The quality of crop residues is thus furanocoumarins and by the plant to make likely to influence the soil invertebrate them (almost half of the synthesis steps are community and its participation in impor- P450-mediated). Two promising genes, one tant processes like decomposition and from the insect and one from parsnip, have nutrient cycling. been isolated and are being expressed in With Raymond Cloyd, I’m studying the yeast to determine the functions of the pro- Zaborski ecology and interactions of fungus gnats, teins for which they code. Another project Bradysia spp., and their natural enemies– involves the mapping of plant defense especially the predatory soil mite Hypoaspis responses and photosynthesis in response to miles–in greenhouse floriculture systems. herbivores and was inspired by the recent Ana Cabrera (master’s student, NRES) is availability of a chlorophyll fluorescence- developing methods to investigate the lethal imaging instrument that allows high resolu- and sublethal effects of greenhouse pesti- tion mapping of gross photosynthesis. Indeed, cides on H. miles, as well as investigating photosynthesis outside damaged regions of the effect of different prey on H. miles life the leaf can be impacted, and in parsnips this Zangerl cycle and reproduction. effect is associated with furanocoumarin I am also interested in the potential use of induction (recently published in Proceed- soil invertebrates, especially soil mites, in ings of the National Academy of Sciences). environmental assessment. Their community Last year also marked the end of a project to structure may be very sensitive to environ- identify factors that influence how tightly mental disturbances, offering a potential webworms and parsnips interact. We deter- monitoring tool for managing and improv- mined that the tightness of the interaction ing soil quality. Carmen Ugarte (master’s varies among populations and is weakest student, NRES) is comparing different when a chemically similar alternate host is approaches to using predatory mesostigmatid present or when plant populations contain a mites for biological monitoring. high frequency of especially furanocoumarin- I am working with a group of researchers rich phenotypes. These and other results and extension educators at the Survey and from this project form the basis for a new the University to develop, in collaboration grant application seeking to understand how with organic producers and other stakehold- the parsnip-webworm interaction has evolved ers in Illinois, a broad research program to over time both here and in its native Euro- address technical, social, and marketing pean setting. problems faced by the rapidly growing

Entomology Newsletter-22 Bee and Beekeeping Short Course

THE 6th University of Illinois Bees and Beekeeping Short Course was held August 17-18, 2002. About 30 people from Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin came to learn about the latest developments in beekeeping and gain new insights and appreciation of the bees themselves.

The course is directed by Gene Robinson, and is funded by the Department of Entomology, the School of Integrative Biology, the Center for Economic Entomology at the Illinois Natural History Survey, and the Office of Outreach, College of ACES. Michelle Elekonich, a postdoctoral research associate in the Robinson Lab, was the course coordina- One highlight of the short course was the tor and department graduate students and opportunity for participants to act as “scien- postdoctoral associates again served as able tist-citizens” and perform a real experiment instructors of both field and laboratory that we designed just for them. Another activities. highlight was the participation of Marla Spivak, University Minnesota, a noted apiculture extension expert.

Participants also enjoyed the opportunity to indulge in a French-style honey tasting, which is a delicious and effective way of teaching how strikingly different each and every honey can be.

Entomology Newsletter-23 Illinois Entomologists in the News

May Berenbaum

Ecologists agree: We’re no smarter than nature. BioMedNet News. Aug. 7, 2001. Hidden damage of insect bites. Science. Aug. 10, 2001. New research fuels debate over genetic food altering. The New York Times. Sept. 9, 2001. Butterfly balls. The Economist. Sept. 22, 2001. Earworm tricks plants into making themselves tastier. Scripps Howard News Service. April 17, 2002. No tickling. Science News 161:294. May 11, 2002. Researchers picture key to plant growth (with Evan DeLucia and Art Zangerl). The News Gazette. June 24, 2002. Adoring nature, till it bites us in the back. The New York Times. Aug. 21, 2002.

Fred Delcomyn

Touchy, touchy. The Economist. Aug. 10, 2002.

Duane McKenna (alumnus)

Florida’s butterflies threatened by changing ecosystem. The Daytona Beach News Journal. Sept. 22, 2002.

Robert Novak

African team studies local mosquito fight. The Times-Picayune. July 22, 2001.

Hugh Robertston

Assaulting the mosquito’s sense of smell. ScienceDaily. Nov. 28, 2001. The nose knows. ABCNews.com. Nov. 29, 2001. U of I researcher studies how mosquitoes smell. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Oct. 3, 2002. Scientists targeting mosquito population. The News Gazette. Oct. 5, 2002.

Entomology Newsletter-24 Gene Robinson

Senior bees up all night caring for larvae. Science News 159:257. April 28, 2001. Honeybees show a little gene activity goes miles and miles. The New York Times. May 7, 2002. Learning from the bees to get ZZZs. Business Week. May 7, 2001. Dogs, chimps and bees are endorsed in high- stakes gene-mapping contest. The Wall Street Journal Online. Feb. 28, 2002. Honeybees in a mite more than trouble. Washingtonpost.com. May 14, 2002. More species chosen for genome project. Washingtonpost.com. May 23, 2002. Sweet deal for bee gene-mappers (also Hugh Robertson, Susan Fahrbach, May Berenbaum, and Fred Delcomyn). The News Gazette. June 16, 2002. Honeybee sequencing: One honey of an idea. The Scientist 16(13):22. June 24, 2002. Genetic beeline. The Times (London). July 29, 2002.

Nathan Schiff (alumnus)

Why fly into a forest fire? Its one way to meet a lot of great bugs. Science News 159:140-141. March 3, 2001.

John Tooker

Loda prairie provides study of insect life. Paxton Daily Record. Nov. 13, 2000.

Jim Whitfield

The world’s oldest genetic engineers. Science Now. May 28, 2002. Unmenschliche Tentechniker. Wissenchaft- Online (German version of Scientific Ameri- can), June 3, 2002.

Entomology Newsletter-25 Colloquium Speakers in 2001

Spring Fall

Gene Robinson, U. of Illinois at Urbana- Elisa Vinuela, Purdue U., “Side-effects of Champaign, “From society to genes with the pesticides on beneficial organisms.” honey bee.” Walter S. Sheppard, Washington State U., John D. Hatle, Illinois State U., “Physiological “Honey bees of the Tien Shan Mountains: ecology of the canalized phase of egg produc- Evolutionary implications and apicultural tion in grasshoppers.” possibilities.” Herman K. Lehman, Hamilton C., “Regulation Julie Alipaz, U. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, of neurotransmitter synthesis in an insect “Incipient speciation in Drosophila nervous system.” melanogaster.” Barry R. Pittendrigh, Purdue U., “Negative-cross Markus Friedrich, Wayne State U., “Molecular resistance in the control of insect populations.” phylogenetics caught in a spider web? Recent Christopher M. Comer, U. of Illinois at results and hypotheses regarding arthropod Chicago, “Steering insect behavior: The phylogeny and body plan evolution.” antennae and multi-modal neuronal circuitry Linda S. Raynor, Cornell U., “Can one account for guidance of movement.” for taste in predatory wasps? Behavior and George Heimpel, U. of Minnesota, “Ecology of fitness consequences of consuming chemically sugar feeding in parasitoids.” defended caterpillars.” Kenneth F. Raffa, U. of Wisconsin-Madison, Daniel J. Howard, New Mexico State U., “Predator exploitation of prey chemicals “Genetic aspects of reproductive isolation associated with feeding and mating: What’s an between the ground crickets Allonemobius herbivore to do?” fasciatus and A. socius?” Dawn M. Wesson, Tulane U., “The Asian tiger Michael R. Strand, U. of Wisconsin-Madison, mosquito in New Orleans: An invasive exotic “Regulation of insect cellular immune re- in the Big Easy.” sponses and the counterstrategies of metazoan Raymond A. Cloyd, U. of Illinois at Urbana- parasites.” Champaign, “Does plant size influence natural Stephen C. Welter, U. of California-Berkeley, enemy foraging success?” “Consequences of crop domestication on tri- Frank H. Collins, U. of Notre Dame, “The trophic interactions in four cropping systems,” Anopheles gambiae genome project.” and “Area-wide pheromone mating disruption Huey Hing, U. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, of the codling moth.” “Dock-pak signaling: Axon guidance and Weimin Li, U. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, olfactory map development in Drosophila.” “Molecular analysis and functional character- Thomas M. Clark, Indiana U.-South Bend, ization of lepidopteran cytochrome P450’s “Integrative and regulatory aspects of insect involved in insect plant interactions.” epithelial transport.” David J. Schulz, U. of Illinois at Urbana- William O. Ballard, The Field Museum, “Three Champaign, “Biogenic amines and division of genomes, one arena: Co-evolution or conflict labor in honey bees.” in Drosophila simulans.” Barbara L. Thorne, U. of Maryland, “Repro- ductive dynamics and development plasticity of basal Isoptera.” Uriel Kitron, U. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, “Ticks, mosquitoes, and triatomids: Spatial and temporal dispersion patterns and disease transmission processes.”

Entomology Newsletter-26 and 2002

Spring Fall

Hugh M. Robertson, U. of Illinois at Urbana- Xianchun Li, U. of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, “Comparative insect genomics: Champaign, “Molecular definition of multiple Olfactory receptors in Anopheles gambiae and resistance in Helicoverpa zea.” gene loss in Drosophila.” Sedonia Sipes, Southern Illinois U., “Host Anja Weidenmuller, Arizona State U., “Climate choice in specialist bees: A phylogenetic control in bumble bee nests—the response perspective.” threshold concept revisited.” Joel R. Coats, Iowa State U., “Plant terpenes James B. Woolley, Texas A & M, “Cryptic versus the arthropods.” species in the Aphelinus varipes complex: Jeff Scott, Cornell U., “Cytochrome P450 Morphological differentiation, reproductive mediated insecticide resistance: Molecular isolation and host-switching.” and “Evolution mechanisms and evolutionary plasticity.” of unusual biologies in the parasitic wasp Steve Roberts, U. of Nevada-Las Vegas, “Insect family Aphelinidae.” flight energetics and kinematics: Insights from Nathan M. Schiff, USDA Forest Service, environmental, developmental and behavioral “Aspects of sawfly biology: Sterol utilization perspectives.” and an unusual form of locomotion.” Ken Haynes, U. of Kentucky, “Aggressive Marc Tatar, Brown U., “Neuroendocrine chemical mimicry by a bolas spider.” control of insect aging.” Jacob Friedman, Tel Aviv U., “Chemotypic Robert C. Vennete, Midwest Ecological Risk differentiation in indigenous populations of Assessment Center, “Invaders that suck: Foeniculum vulgare.” Soybean aphids in the North Central US.” David Wise, U. of Kentucky, “Managing and Paula K. Kleintjes, U. of Wisconsin, “Butter- manipulating complex food webs: Biocontrol flies, elk and aspen: Is there a connection?” of crop pests with spiders and beetles.” Kelly S. Johnson, Ohio U., “Insect digestive John H. Law, U. of Arizona, “The rusty mos- strategies and the biochemical environment of quito.” the gut” Robert W. Lichtwardt, U. of Kansas, “Har- Margaret K. Thayer, The Field Museum, pellales (Trichomycetes): Unusual fungal “Austral rove beetles: What could they tell us symbionts in insect guts.” about Austral biogeography?” Steven Rissing, Ohio State U., “Studies on the Robert L. Jeanne, U. of Wisconsin-Madison, evolution of cooperation among non-relatives “Information and specialization in Polybia in starting ant colonies.” occidentals: How a complex insect society Kevin Holston, U. of Illinois at Urbana- organizes labor.” Champaign, “Systematics research on Thereva Yehuda Ben-Shahar, U. of Illinois at Urbana- Latreille (Diptera: Therevidae): From taxo- Champaign, “Foraging, a cGMP-dependent nomic exercise to biological enterprise.” protein kinase gen, and behavioral plasticity in Karlene Ramsdell, U. of Illinois at Urbana- the honey bee and fruit fly.” Champaign, “Odorant-binding protein of John A. Breznak, Michigan State U., “Symbi- Rhagoletis and Diabrotica virgifera.” otic interactions between termites and their hindgut microbes.”

Entomology Newsletter-27 Graduate Students

herbivores. Three densities of flowers were Yehuda Ben-Shahar used: no flowers, a low density, and a high density of flowers. Preliminary results from I recently received my Ph.D. in Entomology data collected during summer 2001 indicate at Illinois. I’m continuing my studies of that rates of predation and parasitism were genes and their control of behavior as a significantly greater in study plots having postdoctoral fellow in the Robinson group, higher densities of flowers, enhancing where I did my thesis work. For my Ph.D., I biological control of the pests. studied the involvement of a cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) pathway in regulating behavioral plasticity of the worker honey Mark Carroll bee, Apis mellifera. In collaboration with Marla Sokolowski, University of Toronto, I Ben-Shahar studied interactions of natural allelic poly- I am originally from Florida, where I morphisms in a PKG gene with environmen- received a B.A. from the New College of tal variations that lead to profound changes USF after completing an undergraduate in behavior of larval and adult fruit flies. My thesis on ichthyotoxic compounds in red honey bee work was published in Science. mangrove leaves. These interests in chemi- My wife Sarah and I will soon move to cal ecology directed me to Illinois to work Iowa City where I have a postdoctoral with May Berenbaum and Art Zangerl, who position with Michael Welsh, an HHMI have indulged my varied interests in plant- investigator at the University of Iowa insect interactions. In 1997, I completed my master’s research on the use of host plant Bennett Medical Center. Sarah will finish her medical degree while I pursue insect behavior and esters as olfactory cues by parsnip webworms. the genes that control it using Drosophila My doctoral research examines how melanogaster as a model. dietary carotenoids affect the physiology and behavior of insect herbivores under oxidative stresses presented by phototoxic plant secondary compounds and UV light. I Ashley Bennett have conveniently focused on the interaction between parsnips and parsnip webworms as I am a master’s student and an Illinois native. my model system, given the importance of Carroll In May 2000, I graduated from Millikin phototoxic furanocoumarins in this interac- University with a B.S. in biology. As an tion. Webworms that consume the carotenoid undergraduate, I became interested in lutein show a greater behavioral tolerance of entomology, which led me to the University photoactivating UVA light and enhancement of Illinois. I joined the Hanks lab and am of their cytochrome P450 detoxification currently interested in designing ornamental system. Whether these trends occur in other landscapes that control insect pests by en- lepidopterans is not known. To provide a couraging their natural enemies. Our study little ecological context for my work, I plan focuses on the effect that floral density has to make comparisons between webworms upon population regulation of the plant collected from populations under different feeding pests pine needle scale and ever- UV light regimes in the montane west. On a green bagworm. We planted four species of related note, maybe someday I will be able perennial flowering plants (white clover, to tell you why lepidopteran testes are often goldenrod, euphorbia, and coreopsis) around bright red, orange, or yellow (hint: it’s prob- pine trees that were infested with the ably not aposematism).

Entomology Newsletter-28 In my personal life, I am happily pursuing Colin Favret a second childhood with daughter Alyssa (6), who tells everyone that her dad makes silly caterpillar pies. When I’m not actively FOR the past 3 years I have been the insect wearing the daddy hat or graduate student collection manager at the Illinois Natural hat, I move around town by land (running), History Survey. One particularly engaging sea (swimming in a pool, as a substitute), or front has been the coalescence of various on my bicycle (not much exercise benefit, parts of a large specimen database project, but quite enjoyable). currently focusing on the aquatic orders; the data associated with over 10% of the seven million prepared specimens in the collection Won Young Choi have been computerized, and the specimen locality data will soon be interactively mappable on the internet. I am from Taegu City, South Korea. My Research-wise, I am finishing my Ph.D. Choi wife Kyong In Suh earned a Ph.D. in studies on the systematics of Cinara aphids entomology on the systematics of parasitic of pinyon pines. I have uncovered several Hymenoptera. We have a daughter, Jung stages of speciation using molecular, morpho- Yoon (4), who also likes insects!!! I earned metric, and ecological data. This work has my B.S. and M.S. in biology and zoology at opened up new avenues of inquiry and I Yeungnam University, South Korea. For my expect to continue working with Cinara M.S. degree, I studied systematics of Korean after my degree. I also have side projects eucoilid wasps. I am a Ph.D. student work- involving Illinois aphids and the insect ing with Jim Whitfield, focusing on the collection database. systematics of the New World Diolcogaster Deans (Microgastrinae: Braconidae). I like hiking and photography, especially insects, plants, and my daughter. So I regularly go out to Casey Funderburk parks around C-U with my family and enjoy my hobbies. AFTER completing my B.S. in biology at Ball State University in 2000, I spent the better part of a year surveying the inverte- Andy Deans brates and amphibians of Canyonlands National Park with the USGS. Anxious to continue my education, I began my master’s Favret A Boston, MA, native and a new graduate studies at Illinois in fall 2001. Last year was student in the department, I am quickly a tough one for me in a number of ways— adapting to life in the Midwest. I began my namely, adjusting to life as a grad student Ph.D. in spring 2001, 6 months ahead of my and dealing with the death of my father. I advisor Jim Whitfield. My research focuses am currently developing my thesis project, on the systematics of ensign wasps (Evanii- and I am very busy with coursework and TA dae). I am revising the genera of the world responsibilities. This year is off to a better and using molecular and morphological start, and I am looking forward to beginning characters to construct a phylogeny for the my research. In my spare time, I do my best family. It will be interesting to reexamine Funderburk to pursue my other lifelong passion—seeing the placement of this family within the new places! Since I’ve been living here in Hymenoptera–a great mystery in wasp evo- the exciting cornfields of C-U, I’ve been lution. When not focusing on research, I fortunate to have had the opportunity to do enjoy painting, drawing, web design, birding, quite a bit of traveling (including the UK, attending to my cichlids, and cycling through Germany, Canada, and the northwest US). the hill-less(!) prairie.

Entomology Newsletter-29 Students Matthew Ginzel Erin Grossman (continued) I am a Ph.D. candidate studying with Larry AS a member of Larry Hank’s lab, I am Hanks. I’m interested in mate location and finishing my master’s degree in NRES. My recognition strategies of longhorned beetles research studies the impact of tree water and the association between behavior in the stress on insect herbivory in urban ecosys- adult and host requirements of the larvae. tems. I hope to graduate in December 2002. Reproductive behavior in cerambycids is This has already been a busy year for me. I correlated with the condition of the larval got married on August 3, 2002, to Daniel host plant; whether hosts are healthy, mori- Otto, a fellow entomologist and my best bund, or dead. My dissertation research friend. He moved to Maryland shortly after includes a study on the reproductive behav- the wedding and I look forward to moving ior of a number of cerambycid species that out east this December as well. We enjoy have different larval host requirements. A reading great books, hiking, traveling, and recently fallen (moribund) tree represents an collecting books and toys. I also am an avid ephemeral and unpredictable resource, with needleworker and can’t wait to find all the Ginzel the prime subcortical tissues being rapidly best yarn shops in Maryland. degraded by a variety of wood-feeding insects. The first larvae to colonize a host will have access to the best nutrition, selecting Patrick Halbig for efficient host location strategies and rapid oviposition by adults. I have found I started at Illinois in fall 2002 and am that adults whose larvae require moribund working in Robert Novak’s laboratory on hosts are mutually attracted to volatiles West Nile and malaria-related projects. My emitted from the fallen tree. Once on the previous academic experience includes work Grossman host, males randomly search for mates and at the University of California, Berkeley recognize females by contact pheromones. (B.S.) and the London School of Hygiene Males only mate with females after contact- and Tropical Medicine (M.Sc.). My master’s ing them with their antennae. Adults of a research involved control strategies in north- number of beetles that oviposit on live hosts, west Iran against Phlebotomus sandfly spp. however, encounter each other while feeding that transmit Leishmania to humans. I have away from the larval host but also rely on also worked on the augmentative release contact pheromones for mate recognition. strategy for parasitoids such as Tricho- We have identified the contact pheromone of gramma. Basically, I like parasites, preda- Xylotrechus colonus, a crepuscular beetle tors, parasitoids, etc. My personal interests Harrison that preferentially attacks moribund hicko- include collecting vinyl, thinking about ries and I’m involved in identifying the probabilities, rooting for the Athletics, and, pheromone of a number of other species. of course, sorting specimens. I am also involved in a collaborative project with Larry Hanks and Ken Paige on the invasive Asian longhorned beetle. We Terry Harrison have beetles from Chicago, New York, and four regions of China. By comparing variation I am a Ph.D. student in May Berenbaum’s in mtDNA sequences, we hope to determine lab. My research interest is biosystematics the origin of the Chicago population. of microlepidoptera, especially Gelechioidea During my free time, my wife Christine and Yponomeutoidea. I am co-authoring the and I enjoy camping, swimming, and play- fascicle on momphine Coleophoridae for the ing a variety of outdoor sports. Moths of America North of Mexico series, and my dissertation project is a biodiversity

Entomology Newsletter-30 inventory of microlepidoptera in western ing time in nature, traveling, relaxing with Illinois hill prairies, with an aim toward family and friends, and photography. testing hypotheses of optimal reserve design for that biotic system. Reed Johnson

Jeffrey Heilveil I grew up in Missoula, MT, but recently I’ve come from a master’s program in biology at I am a doctoral candidate, starting my 4th Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, year in the program. I’m interested in NC. My master’s research took me to Arch- answering population-level questions in bold Biological Station, in central Florida, aquatic ecosystems. Currently, I am exam- where I looked at the chemical defense and Heilveil ining the effects of habitat degradation on effectiveness of mimicry in an arctiid wasp- two species of Megaloptera, using micro- mimic moth, Syntomeida ipomoeae. I hope satellite analysis. When I’m not in the to continue looking at the intersection Berlocher lab, I enjoy cooking and spend- between the Lepidoptera and defensive plant ing time with my wife, Amy. compounds as I begin working toward a Ph.D. with May Berenbaum. Heather Hines John Kane Hines I haven’t traveled far to begin my first year of graduate school. After an upbringing in a MOST recently from southern California, I small farming community in northeast Iowa, spent a large part of my childhood in south- I received a B.A. in biology and anthropol- ern Ireland where I developed most of the ogy in December 2001 from the University peculiarities which led me here. I received of Iowa. I studied the relationship between my bachelor degree in ecology from UC- landscape-level floral resource availability San Diego, and am interested in studying and bumble bee diversity in Stephen bee behavior and evolution. I am interested Hendrix’s lab. I was also involved with in working with stingless bees, having Johnson projects on the evolution of cockroach previously worked with colonies of Trigona reproductive strategies with Barbara Stay. fulviventris in central Costa Rica. Stingless I am generally interested in the ecology, bees have a large and startling array of evolution, and behavior of bees. For my behaviors, and there is still much to be M.S., I am particularly intrigued by ques- learned of their evolutionary histories. tions related to the evolution and diversifi- Outside of the sciences I enjoy long- cation of bumble bees. Upon discovery of distance bicycling, reading, and music. I Sydney Cameron’s project to develop a play and compose for the piano, and look phylogeny of the bumble bees of the world forward to acquainting myself with the using molecular and morphological data, I musical life of Illinois, as well as, perhaps, Kane shucked my plans to take time off and in some of the people here. March 2002 moved to C-U to begin graduate work in her lab. I have been sequencing for the project and in late July and August Lauren Kent traveled to Turkey and the Pyrenees to collect additional bumble bee species. In I am a 3rd-year graduate student in the August I spent a few weeks toning my bee department and a new addition to Hugh identification skills at “The Bee Course” in Robertson’s lab. I have begun work on Portal, AZ. putative gustatory receptor genes of the Kent In my spare time I enjoy reading, spend- malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, and

Entomology Newsletter-31 Students will be trying to figure out where and when master’s degree in entomology. I joined the they are expressed in the insect. My other Berenbaum lab in 1997 and have been (continued) research interests include effects of sym- studying the interaction of insect herbivores bionts on vector competence in mosquitoes. and plants ever since. My research focuses I am from Connecticut, but came to the on investigating the transcriptional regula- Midwest to attend Washington University in tion and function/structure relationship of St. Louis where I received my B.A. in cytochrome P450s (a vast family of detoxifi- biology. I really miss the hills and beaches cation enzymes) responsible for metabolism of the East Coast, but I think the trade-off is of plant allelochemicals, including furano- definitely worth it! Drawing, painting, coumarins, in swallowtail butterflies. I hope camping, hiking, tennis, and falling asleep to graduate and start my postdoctoral work outside on a sunny day are among the things very soon. that make me happy, if I can get the time. Lacey Xianchun Li Emerson Lacey I’M a Ph.D. student in May Berenbaum’s THE road to enlightenment and an educa- lab working on molecular definition of tion has been long and grueling. I endured a multiple resistance in Helicoverpa zea. I long stint in creative writing and in biology have completed two major steps toward my at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. doctoral degree this year. I passed my Some soul searching, several odd jobs, and a prelim exam in the spring, and I gave my twist of fate led me to entomology in Urbana. exit seminar in the fall. My doctoral re- W. Li I joined the department in 1998 and Larry search has been very productive this year, Hanks’ lab in spring 2000. Finally, the elu- with three papers published, including one sive master’s degree is in sight. I’m interested in Nature. I am currently busy with my last in the ecology of longhorned beetles. My batch of metabolism assays. Hopefully, I research focuses on the chemical communi- will move into next phase—thesis writing cation, host finding, and general biology of and defense—soon. the red-headed ash borer, Neoclytus acumi- natus. My master’s thesis will describe the chemical calling behavior of the males and Jonathan Lundgren the recognition of females by males. I also X. Li teach when not exploring the arthropod I received a bachelor’s degree in biology and inhabitants of dead trees. I have served as a master’s degree in entomology from the teaching assistant for May Berenbaum’s University of Minnesota. My thesis research “Insects in Society,” Bob Novak’s “Medical involved the use of parasitoid natural enemies Entomology,” and Larry Hanks’ “Introduc- of lepidopteran cabbage pests as a control tion to Entomology.” tactic, the biology of Trichogramma spp., When not on the trail of an elusive beetle and quality control in commercial insectaries. or student, I enjoy camping, hiking, my pets, While at Minnesota, I had affiliations with live music, quiet nights at home, and long USDA/APHIS and the Minnesota Depart- Lundgren walks in the park. ment of Agriculture. I am pursuing a doctoral degree with Rob Wiedenmann. My interests include the ecol- Weimin Li ogy of insect natural enemies and invasive species, and the unintended consequences of I am a Ph.D. candidate in May Berenbaum’s pest control methods. My thesis research lab. Originally from SW China, I spent 7 involves investigating the compatibility of years in Shanghai for my bachelor and anti-rootworm transgenic corn varieties and

Entomology Newsletter-32 coccinellid (Coleomegilla maculata) and My dissertation research is a population carabid (Poecilus chalcites) predators. Con- genetics study of Sabatia campestris, com- currently, I’m conducting research on the monly known as prairie rose gentian (or statewide distribution of the alfalfa blotch Texas Star if you’re a Texan like Stewart is), leafminer, an exotic pest of alfalfa new to which is a state-endangered species in Illinois, and the role of parasitoids imple- Illinois. Using microsatellite genetic mark- mented in its biological control. Since ers, I’m interested in better understanding arriving in Illinois in 2001, I have fostered how genes disperse in time and space. In relationships with the US Forest Service, particular, I am interested in how important Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the soil seed bank is in conserving alleles Illinois Natural History Survey, and the especially as this pertains to rare and endan- Champaign County Forest Preserve District, gered species. Since prairie rose gentian is as well as several area schools. endangered in Illinois but relatively abun- dant in southern states, I am also investigating regional population genetic differences Katy Lustofin in this species. On a personal note, I am married to Steve Lustofin I’VE been continuing my research on the Sobaski and we live in rural Monticello in interaction between poison hemlock and one of the old Robert Allerton houses with Agonopterix alstroemeriana, an introduced our three wonderful cats, Emma, Seamus, lepidopteran that feeds on poison hemlock. and Buster. My research this past year has focused more on the insect physiology and toxicology aspects of the interaction. I hope to start Cindy McDonnell doing some toxicology work with Bettina Francis this winter, possibly on chickens I am beginning my 3rd year of graduate (only 2 legs, but they still have wings!). school in entomology. For the past year, I Lyons-Sobaski Research aside, it has been a good year. I have been working on my master’s degree passed my prelims in the spring and am in the labs of May Berenbaum and Mary taking my last class this semester. My dog, Schuler. My thesis project is to determine Claire, and I joined the Boneyard Dogs the transcriptional regulation of a cyto- Agility Club, a fun way to get exercise and chrome P450 gene from tiger swallowtail by work on obedience. I also planted my first its promoter region. I am also investigating garden this spring. the activation of a P450 gene from black swallowtail by heterologous transcription factors from Drosophila and mammals to McDonnell Sheila Lyons-Sobaski better characterize putative regulatory ele- ments within its promoter. I am funded by WHILE I am formally a Ph.D. student in the Environmental Council as an Environ- Plant Biology, I am affiliated with Ento- mental Toxicology scholar and by the Cell mology because my advisor is Stewart and Molecular Biology Training Grant. With Berlocher. Why does a plant biologist have the guidance of these programs, I have been connections with entomology? Well, my developing an interest in molecular origins first advisor decided to pursue his research at of responses to environmental toxins, another university so I looked to Stewart to including plant secondary chemicals and take me on as his student, not only because environmental pollutants. the plants I study are pollinated by insects In my spare time I try to unpack boxes in and because I was his research technician my new house that I share with another grad several years before, but because of our student. I was recently elected EGSA presi- common interests in population genetics. dent and do not yet know to what extent that

Entomology Newsletter-33 Students will consume me. I also enjoy volunteering Berenbaum lab. I collaborated with Mary at the Common Ground Food Co-op and Schuler in Cell and Structural Biology to (continued) supporting local establishments in down- investigate the tissue distribution of cyto- town Champaign. chrome P450 monooxygenase genes and P450-mediated metabolism of natural plant toxins in the black swallowtail for my Bridget O’Neill master’s thesis. This led me to investigate a mechanism to account for the variation in I’M a 1st-year graduate student in May P450 gene expression. For my doctorate, I Berenbaum’s lab looking forward to designing am characterizing the transcriptional regula- a master’s project on insect-plant inter- tion of CYP6B1, a P450 gene that encodes a actions. I am originally from New Hampshire principal detoxification enzyme mediating and received by B.A. in biology from Boston resistance to host plant toxins in the black swallowtail caterpillar. Transcription, and O’Neill University in 2000. After spending the past 2 years studying diabetic retinopathy, I hence expression, of this gene is differen- decided I really missed insects and labs with tially and combinatorially induced and windows. In my free time I like to travel, inhibited by natural plant chemicals and camp, hike, cook, and take photographs. environmental pollutants; these regulatory networks interfere with each other probably due to competition for promoter binding Harland Patch sites. In addition, comparison with the regulation of expression of a well characterized mammalian cytochrome P450 gene has SINCE 1998 I have been working with revealed that the pattern of regulation of Patch Hugh Robertson to elucidate the molecular detoxicative genes is conserved in distantly aspects of insect olfaction. My original pro- related taxa. Although I have benefitted ject focused on genes related to ovipostion greatly from a co-advisorship by two dyna- preference in the black swallowtail butterfly, mic scientists and really enjoyed my time in Papilio polyxenes. It has since blossomed Illinois, I will graduate this spring and am into a small menagerie of insect olfaction. looking into postdoctoral opportunities for My Papilio studies have now been extended next fall. This year is a big one for me for to include a putative olfactory receptor in another reason as well: I’m (finally!) Manduca sexta , the tobacco hornworm, and marrying my best friend, Ryan Brown, after in conjunction with Gene Robinson’s Petersen 10 years of dating. research group, a number of olfactory receptors from a honey bee EST project. Christopher Pierce Becca Petersen WHAT a difference 2 years make! At this time 2 years ago, I had just finished my first IT’S remarkable how someone who grew up year of research and was beginning to go in the former Canal Zone in the Republic of through samples from my second summer. Panama ended up in Illinois. It all began Pierce In 2002, the Evolutionary Biology meeting with my undergraduate studies in vector held at the University of Illinois used the biology and mosquito phylogenetics at the western corn rootworm as their model and University of Notre Dame. During my mascot due to its resistance to cultural and summers back home in the tropics, I worked chemical control. To date, I have officially at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Insti- finished my field research and have been tute studying the phylogenetics of marine studying for prelims, which I plan on taking and terrestrial invertebrates. After earning and passing this October, and have been my bachelor’s in biology, I joined the

Entomology Newsletter-34 writing my dissertation. My thesis focused beetle, Tetraopes tetrophthalmus (Forster) on seasonal oviposition patterns of the (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Both plant western corn rootworm variant that has quality and the presence of female beetles expanded its ovipositional sites into other appear to influence the accumulation of crops, as well as looking at how corn and mated pairs of beetles on milkweed stems. I soybean phenology affect dispersal and found no evidence that male beetles were oviposition of this new variant of western attracted to female beetles by long-range corn rootworm. I plan on defending, depos- pheromones; rather, they accumulated by iting, and graduating by this May. There- spending more time on milkweed stems on fore, if any alums of this fine department which they contacted female beetles. I am are looking to hire an outstanding individual continuing to work in the Hanks lab for my in the field of Integrated Pest Management, Ph.D., which is on conservation biological I’m your man. control of pine needle scale, Chionaspis pinifoliae (Fitch) (Homoptera: Diaspididae). I am interested in both the influence of plant Ramsdell Karlene Ramsdell community on arthropod natural enemies and competition between groups of predators AGAIN this year, I remain a typical North and parasitoids. I will also be studying the Side of Chicago urbanite with rural preten- behavior of predators and parasitoids of pine sions. Research has gone well and comple- needle scale to better understand how they tion of the Ph.D. is on the horizon. Amaz- utilize these scales as prey. Along with ingly (to me anyway) there is no hymenop- watching insects, I like to read mythology teran component. The primary research and walk. focus is odorant-binding proteins of Rhago- Reagel letis. I’m not quite convinced that Rhagoletis are more interesting than a generalist Katharina Rothwangl parasitoid; however, they have their own special charm. In addition to being jumping- IN 2000, I received by B.A. in zoology from spider mimics and frequently holding center the University of Texas, Austin. After taking stage in discussions of sympatric speciation, all of the entomology classes offered at UT they are economic fruit pests. Surely this (three at the time), I realized that entomol- combination of attributes will make my ogy is what I wanted to pursue. I came to future research eminently fundable! On the Illinois in 2001 for that purpose. I’m starting Rothwangl whole, it’s been a good year for research my 2nd year as a graduate student in the lab and personal satisfaction from other inter- of Raymond Cloyd. My research focuses on ests. The Evolution Meeting, held at Illinois chronic effects of insect growth regulators this summer (thanks, May and Stewart), on the citrus mealybug parasitoid, Lepto- provided a rare opportunity for me to mastix dactylopii. If all goes according to acquaint others with some slightly older plan, I will complete my M.S. degree this Illinois natives, Mazon Creek fossils. The summer. In my free time I enjoy going to star of the show was the enigmatic Illinois concerts, watching really bad horror or sci-fi state fossil, the Tully Monster. movies, and of course, spending time outside when it’s not insanely cold (don’t Takiya forget, came here from Texas!). Peter Reagel

I received my B.S. from Illinois in 1996, Daniela Takiya and completed my M.S. last year in the lab of Larry Hanks. For my master’s, I studied I moved to Urbana-Champaign from Rio de the mating system of the red milkweed Janeiro in August 2001 searching for more

Entomology Newsletter-35 leafhoppers to study with Chris Dietrich. It’s cal ecology and have been characterizing the Students not that there are not enough leafhoppers in impact of gall wasps on their host plants, (continued) Brazil to study, but here I’ve been learning identifying some of the chemicals that gall about their relationships using molecular wasps use to find mates and host plants, and tools, which are not so commonly used by cues that parasitoids use to find their hosts. insect systematists in Brazil. My research During the course of this work, I have drifted concerns the higher-level phylogeny of a into some speciation work (with help from cosmopolitan leafhopper group based on the Berlocher lab) because I have stumbled morphological and DNA sequence data. In on to host races, and possibly a cryptic the New World, where these leafhoppers are species complex, with sub-populations of gall more diversified, they have been spotted as a wasps specializing on different species of major threat to agricultural and ornamental Silphium. In my spare time, I enjoy being crops and this seems to be one good reason outdoors, exercising, and relaxing with my why my studies are mainly funded by a splendid wife. Brazilian government research agency. I am still adapting to the quietness of C-U. Tooker I miss the big city events and the diverse Nick Tzovolos rhythms, landscapes, foods, and people of my country. Besides that, I am truly enjoy- I am a 2nd-year master’s student with Dave ing the coursework and facilities at Illinois. Voegtlin at the Illinois Natural History What I love most in life is traveling, espe- Survey. We have been conducting baseline cially if it involves collecting or visiting invertebrate surveys in the Calumet region museum collections. This past year, I of Chicago, formerly one of the richest collected bugs in Mexico, visited my family wetlands on the Great Lakes. This is being and friends in Rio and Manaus, and went done in conjunction with other projects in through some museum collections in the region looking at all aspects of biologi- Tzovolos Europe; for the next couple years there are cal conservation and land rehabilitation. I plans to collect in Peru, Costa Rica, Venezu- received my B.Sc. from the University of ela and Mexico again! But, there is only one Guelph, Canada, where I was the last student place I would rather be: looking at the in the country to get an undergraduate flooded canopy and sunset on any river specialization in entomology. When I’m not beach of the Rio Negro. fending off feral dogs or avoiding tripping over corpses in Calumet, I enjoy canoeing, John Tooker camping, and fishing with my wife Sandy. Valerio I continue to work toward my Ph.D. under Alejandro Valerio the supervision of Larry Hanks. My research centers on the endophytic insect community MY name is Alejandro Valerio and I am living in flowering stems of four prairie doing my Ph.D. at this amazing university! perennials in the genus Silphium. The great My field of study is systematics under the majority of insects in these stems are gall vigilant sight of Jim Whitfield. My project wasps (Cynipidae) and their parasitoids research is the revision of the “known” (Eurytomidae, Ormyridae) and I have had Neotropical genus Hypomicrogaster (Hy- the pleasure of characterizing the commu- menoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae). So nity of insects that live in these stems as far more questions than answers, a new well as identifying some of the selective prescription of glasses, and some brushes pressures that determine where insects of during collecting trips. As an official different species occur in the stems. I am foreigner from Costa Rica I should say this interested in trophic interactions and chemi- place is too flat!

Entomology Newsletter-36 Rodrigo Velarde Jamie Zahniser

I am working on my Ph.D. under the super- OVER the past year, I’ve focused on gaining vision of not one, but two advisors: Susan experience with a large subfamily of leaf- Fahrbach and Gene Robinson. I received my hoppers, the Deltocephalinae. My current B.S in agricultural sciences from Illinois in project is a cladistic analysis using morphol- 1997. I immediately started my M.S. work- ogy of this subfamily and several other ing on the artificial induction of diapause in closely related (probably embedded) sub- chrysomelids used as biological control families. My training has taken me on a few agents under the guidance of Robert interesting collecting trips–to California and Velarde Wiedenman. I am interested in how genes, to Mexico–and some other (not so exotic) hormones, and other physiological factors trips to my hometown, Pittsburgh, and to influence the neuronal development in other localities in Illinois and across the social insects. My Ph.D. project involves the U.S. Collecting insects has provided the study of the role of nuclear hormone recep- perfect reason to travel and to do some tors in the honey bee brain, and in particular extended camping–two things I really like to in the development of the mushroom bodies. do! When not doing research, I have been I am also interested in other aspects of spending time on classes, my teaching- honey bee postembryonic development and related responsibilities, and what I can division of labor. muster of a social life. Zahniser

Recent Graduates

Master of Science Doctor of Philosophy

Kay Edly. 2001. Habitat and diet selection of Marianne Alleyne. 2001. Physiological factors Acroneuria lycorias (Plecoptera: Perlidae) determining host suitability of lepidopteran Terry Harrison. 2001. Rutaceae-feeding stemborers for parasitization by Cotesia Agonopterix (Elachistidae) in Illinois. flavipes-complex parasitoids (Braconidae: Robert Moore. 2001. Dispersal and population Hymenoptera). regulation of the evergreen bagworm, David Schulz. 2001. The role of octopamine in Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis (Haworth) the regulation of division of labor in honey bee (Lepidoptera: Psychidae). colonies. Peter Reagel. 2001. Aggregation behavior and Joseph Sullivan. 2001. The effects of mate location in the red milkweed beetle allatectomy on flight in honey bees. (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Yehuda Ben-Shahar. 2002. cGMP-dependent Jodie Ellis. 2001. An evaluation of conservation protein kinase, behavioral plasticity, and biological control of evergreen bagworm foraging in honey bees and fruit flies. (Lepidoptera: Psychidae). Honghong Zhang. 2002. Induced walking Martin Hauser. 2001. Revision of the genus behavior of Rhopalosiphum padi L. (Homop- Ammonaios Irwin & Lyneborg 1981 (Diptera: tera: Aphididae). Therevidae). Dmitri Novikov. 2001. Diversity and composi- tion of the insect fauna of Kyrgyz grasslands, with special reference to Auchenorrhyncha (Hemiptera).

Entomology Newsletter-37 Entomology Graduate Student Association

The children’s art contest at the past two Insect Fear Film Festivals has allowed the EGSA to promote the macabre talents of the future entomologists. Spearheaded by Jodie Ellis and Harland Patch, the contest has added a new element to the association’s successful efforts to continue a tradition. As always, the whole group puts forth a mighty effort to entertain the masses and introduce them to the world of the insects (be they small or be they huge mutants terrorizing the populace).

The fall of 2002 has seen a molting of the previous larval officers into the beautiful butterflies that are the new elected officers of the EGSA. Cindy McDonnell is the new President. She has the charge of leading the group into the future. Andy Deans keeps the minutes and counts the hours as the secre- THE Entomology Graduate Student Asso- tary. Alejandro Valerio is in charge of guard- ciation (EGSA) is a registered student ing our considerable coffers. Matt Ginzel organization on campus. Our mission is to and John Lundgren round out the cabinet as unite the graduate student effort in outreach, GSAC representative and faculty rep, academic, and social endeavors, facilitate respectively. Whatever the future holds, the communication between students and EGSA will continue to reflect the efforts of faculty, orient new graduate students, help the graduate students both within the organize and execute the Insect Fear Film department and in the community. Festival, and, of course, try to take over the world. We meet several times each semester. We use the meetings to organize activities, bounce around ideas for future plans, and enjoy delicious pizza.

We took two group camping trips. One was a collecting trip to the Larue-Pine Hills area of southwest Illinois and another a back- packing trip to One Horse Gap in the south- eastern corner of the state. If nothing else, these trips introduce out-of-state students to some of the other Illinois that doesn’t include Chicago or row crops. Our intra- mural softball team, the “Bombardier Beetles,” was a crackpot group of players with high ambitions, but a low winning percentage.

Entomology Newsletter-38 Insect Expo: 1999-2002

INSECT Expo is evolving while maintain- ing its tradition of taking science (particularly insect science) to the public using a primary/middle school format in different venues. Volunteers from the Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois, and various state and community organizations continue to support the event. With more upgraded and interactive displays than ever, participants learn principles of insect biology while having fun doing such activities as the Bee Waggle Dance, Preda- tor Game, Spider Web Toss, Pheromone Frenzy Game, and cuddling big bugs at the Insect Zoo.

Insect Expo ’99 debuted at Shawnee Community College in southern Illinois on April 22-23 when the show went “on the an Expo that includes sponsors, contribu- road.” After the organizing team took a tors, and volunteers from the entire Univer- break in 2000, we went south again in spring sity of Illinois entomology community. 2001. Expo ’99 and ’01 were major events Please contact any of the organizing com- for the southern area schools and more than mittee members for information about 50 high school students participated each joining the committee and/or volunteering year as volunteers at the displays. Enthusias- for future Expos. Your participation in this tic volunteers, indeed! fun and valuable event is welcomed!

In 2002, we combined the Insect Expo with Organizing committee members the Insect Film Fear Festival in the lobby of Krannert Auditorium. With a theme of Michael Jeffords, (217) 333-5986, “Alien Insects,” Expo ’02 hosted a large and [email protected] steady stream of families for the entire day, Carie Nixon, (217) 244-9417, [email protected] ending just in time for the start of IFFF. Susan Post, (217) 244-9417, [email protected] The organizing committee extends their Lee Solter, (217) 244-5047, [email protected] thanks and best wishes to charter member, Susan Ratcliffe, whose original idea and Recent sponsors efforts to host an annual Insect Expo in the Champaign-Urbana area met with enormous Illinois Natural History Survey: Center for success and set the stage for subsequent Economic Entomology and Center for events. Biodiversity University of Illinois: Department of Entomol- ogy, Natural Resources & Environmental Insect Expo ’03 will take place in southern Sciences, Crop Sciences, and Veterinary Illinois. We currently plan one event a year, Pathobiology alternating between southern and central Illinois. We hope to continue our tradition of

Entomology Newsletter-39 18th Annual Insect Fear Film Festival

IN 2001, national media attention was less film. “Woodworm” is the common name for intense than usual—“The Daily Show” from a variety of beetles that infest wood, includ- Comedy Channel inquired about coming but ing the common furniture beetle Anobium didn’t, probably because we’re not offensive punctatum, or the deathwatch beetle enough (one recent show featured squeez- Xestobium rufovillosum, or the lyctid able dolls dressed in lederhosen that make powderpost beetle Lyctus brunneus. Given flatulent sounds and the Germans they that Pico bores through ship timbers, he offend). Again, we had visitors who traveled might even be a lymexylonid, a ship timber if not the seven seas then at least a few inter- beetle. Why assigning a name is difficult is states to get here—the Thomas Say club Pico himself—there is absolutely nothing from Purdue and Festival stalwart Nathan even vaguely insectan about his morphology Schiff, who came from Stoneville, MS. Back (and that carrot-like nose makes him look for the first time in 8 years was the children’s more like an animated snowman than insect art contest, which was accompanied anything else). Also complicating the matter by real prizes and a traveling trophy. Over is his dialogue. Early in the film he declares, 250 entries were received from schools in “I used to be a bookworm, I sat upon the Champaign County; three judges, including shelf/I read about exotic lands I yearned to emeritus professor Gilbert Waldbauer, were see myself”—some of the anobiid stored faced with difficult decisions. Artwork re- product pests are called bookworms. But mained on display at the Orpheum Children’s then, when he meets Marilyn, his firefly Science Museum after the festival. girlfriend, who says “I’ve never met an insect like you before,” he replies “You see, Our 18th festival featured the most ubiqui- I’m a woodworm—I’m not an insect at all.” tous animals on the planet—the beetles, or, I guess something was lost in translation. as we like to call them, the Fab 350,000. Pico is voiced by former child actor Corey Given that about 1/3 of all insects are beetles, Feldman, whose film career of late consists or members of the order Coleoptera, and mainly of making films with titles followed that 3/4 of all animals are insects, that means by numbers—Ninja Turtles 3 , Dream a about 1 of every 4 animals on the planet is a Little Dream 2, Meatballs 4. beetle. With so many species, it’s not surprising that beetles are a diverse lot—in fact, Before the feature were two shorts—Sniffles if there’s a way to make a living as an insect, and the Bookworm, a Warner Brothers short there’s a beetle doing it. featuring the larval stage of an anobiid beetle (mostly an excuse to pun on book Hollywood finds beetles useful, too. Our titles), and Baeus, by Bruno Bozzetto, who first feature was an animated film called The also created Self-Service, about mosquitoes; Magic Voyage, a Bavarian production made Baeus is about a beetle who falls in love in 1991 (actually a sequel to In Der Arche with a jilted housewife and uses magic to Ist der Wurm Drin). It chronicles the adven- transform himself into a human. tures of Pico the woodworm, who accompa- nies Christopher Columbus on his historic Our second feature was The Applegates, or voyage of discovery. In this film, based I Meet the Applegates, a satire/science fiction/ hear on a true story, Pico is the one who comedy (and probably a few more genres). convinces Columbus that the world is round Difficulty characterizing it may have had (by nibbling off the corners of a square something to do with its less than stellar box globe). Taxonomically, this is a challenging office performance. The film opens with the

Entomology Newsletter-40 explanation, “The Brazilian cocorado bug northern New South Wales, and eastern was survived in the Amazon rain forest for Northern Territory. millions of years. Unfortunately, the de- struction of the forest by land developers The final film was The Relic (1997), di- threaten the very existence of this undiscov- rected by Peter Hyams (also directed Time ered species. But these creatures are not Cop, Stay Tuned, Capricorn One). This film mere garden variety insects. They’re really is the most tenuously connected to insects. big and they’ve got an attitude—enough so A mysterious shipment of fungus-infected that, after seeing a Dick and Jane primer leaves arrives at the Chicago Museum of used by missionaries for teaching the native Natural History from field anthropologist people to read, they assume human form John Whitney in Brazil (again) around the and go off to infiltrate a typical American same time a boat with the crew mysteriously town with a typical American nuclear plant murdered is found floating in Lake Michi- (you get the picture). They’re so in tune gan. The crate attracts the attention of Dr. with human behavior that they even mis- Margo Green (Penelope Anne Miller), self- pronouce “nuclear” as “nucular.” As Dick is described “evolutionary biologist,” who is Ed Begley Jr., best known as one of the very vying for a grant from the wealthy Blaisedales, few Hollywood celebrities who drives an due in the museum imminently for a major electric car (other credits include Transyl- fund-raiser. She’s competing with the un- vania 6-5000, Amazon Women in the Moon, scrupulous Dr. Greg Lee. You know when voices in Scooby-Doo and Scrappy Do). The the museum guard heads to the men’s room identity of the cocorado bug is a mystery; to smoke a joint that something bad will physical appearance, with raptorial legs and happen. It does (special effects, by the way, elongated prothorax they look like praying are by Stan Winston, who won an Oscar for mantids; with their diet of Butterfingers Jurassic Park). Some large powerful brain- candy bars and rancid garbage from the eating creature is loose (actually, hypothala- dumpster behind the 7-11 they resemble mus-eating creature). This, however, is not cockroaches. But when the exterminator enough to dissuade museum officials from brings a specimen (the Applegates’ dog) to holding the gala preview as planned (not the university, one Professor Fishpaw pro- realizing that having your brain ripped out nounces the cocorado bug to be a species of of your cranium might discourage donors). South American beetle. By the way, be care- Soon Dr. Green, the world’s most versatile ful doing a web search; apparently, “apple- evolutionary biologist, analyzes the chemis- gate” is some kind of gay sex euphemism. try of the fungus and realizes that it’s “loaded with animal hormones!” Dr. Green Before the feature was an excerpt from an also gets a sample of monster tissue and outstanding documentary—Cane Toads, An manages to analyze its DNA (on an auto- Unnatural History, directed and written by comparator) in less than half an hour on a Mark Lewis, first shown in 1988. The cane machine that not only gives the species toad Bufo marinus was deliberately intro- identity as Homo sapiens but also flashes a duced into North Queensland, Australia in nice photo of the particular human whose 1935 to control two species of sugar cane DNA it is. beetles, the Frenchi and the greyback sugar cane grub Lepidoderma albohirtum. Unfor- Where do beetles fit in? Like most major tunately, the cane toads really didn’t come natural history museums, this one houses a into contact with the grubs, but they took to colony of dermestid beetles. The species in Australia; with no known natural enemies the film is Dermestes pompinus, and, after it (they’re poisonous), they’re now a plague eats some fungus infected Brazilian plant unto themselves in most of Queensland, tissue, its DNA ends up in a surprising place.

Entomology Newsletter-41 19th Annual Insect Fear Film Festival

AT 19, the UIUC insect fear film festival is Notwithstanding their unlikely biology, the longest running university-sponsored invading aliens remain popular movie fare. celebration of insects in the country; not People are frightened by large, menacing, only has it inspired insect fear film festivals nonindigenous species and they enjoy soundly on other campuses (including Penn State, thrashing these alien enemies. Truth be told, Purdue, Washington State and Iowa State), though, it’s the small, unobtrusive aliens that but it has also inspired other fear film festi- are really wreaking havoc with the planet vals in C-U—the University of Illinois and they’re not so easily vanquished by guns, Computer Fear Film Festival (also about missiles, or bazookas. Of the many forms of bugs but of a different sort. To me they don’t global environmental change, among the seem scary—after all, how many alien most insidious is the movement of invasive arthropods will go away if you just shut species from native to nonnative areas. them off and turn them back on again?). This Impacts of global warming are subtle, diffi- year, what with Enron, national recession, cult to document, and highly debatable; and Al Quaeda, national news attention was killer bees, Japanese beetles, red imported less, but we did get some inquiries. Most fire ants and gypsy moths are in your face interesting was the one from Tina Nguyen, (or at least your front lawn). Arcwelder Films, who is working on a 13- part documentary series for Animal Planet Our 19th annual festival featured almost 40 on animal phobias. She emailed me January years of Hollywood’s concept of alien 24, wanting to know what was “in store for arthropod invaders. A common theme—if this year’s Insect Fear Film Festival. Do you want to avoid alien arthropods, stay out phobics ever dare attend this event? And by of deserts (all three features involved an any chance, do you know of anyone with a alien invasion in a desert-like setting). The serious phobia of insects/spiders? Our imme- Zanti Misfits is a memorable episode from diate goal is to find a clinical phobic who is the 1963 season of the television show willing to let us document his/her experi- Outer Limits. Alien ant-like creatures from ence during treatment...Participants in this the planet Zanti want to use Earth as their series will be treated with the utmost sensi- own private Alcatraz—a place to exile their tivity. We are taking care to protect our phobic incorrigible criminal element. They threaten subjects from harm or embarrassment, and to destroy Earth unless there’s compliance we will not place any phobic in an in vivo so the town of Morgue, CA (which probably situation without medical supervision.” So, already has an image problem) is selected this isn’t Fear Factor (but there’s no $50,000 [filmed at the Vasquez Rocks formations prize, either). Again, we have visitors who outside Los Angeles]. A place is cordoned have traveled great distances to get here— off by General Hart and his troops to await Mississippi, Wisconsin, and Washington. the landing but, unfortunately, in good sci-fi fashion, trespassers violate the perimeter Back again was the children’s insect art (runaway party girl Lisa Lawrence and her contest, which for the first time had corpo- psychopathic boyfriend Ben Garth, the first rate sponsors and even neater prizes. Last of many psychopathic characters played by year we had about 250 entries; this year, a Bruce Dern). Suffice it to say he meets a bad total of 350 entries came from schools end and the Zantis run amuck, taking over throughout Champaign County; judges Kim the command post after history professor Walden, Christina Nordholm, and Brad Steven Grave, official historian of inter- Scofield had their work cut out for them. planetary events, kills one with a rock (he

Entomology Newsletter-42 already established his character or lack of for puns— e.g., New York Times: “No bugs it by killing an ant at the very beginning). too large for this SWAT team.” Mostly, it The problems with this film are the improb- was an opportunity for scathing reviews. abilities—if you can kill them with a rock, Newsweek: called it an “Empty vidoegame how threatening can they be? And why can’t of a movie about interplanetary pest control.” the humans just outrun them? Things to note: Washington Post reviewer Rita Kemperly stop motion animation with four models writes “Starship Troopers…It’s exactly like seen in closeup, each with different facial Star Wars—if you subtract a good story, expressions and hair distributions, was by sympathetic characters, intelligence, wit and Al Hamm, who worked on Mighty Joe moral purpose.” Young and Speedy AlkaSeltzer. So, if you thought Speedy Alka Seltzer was scary... About the best thing in the movie are the special effects—Phil Tippett was respon- Before The Zanti Misfits was a terrible car- sible for the Velociraptors in Jurassic Park toon—Sectaurs Invasion of Skall Island. and won an Oscar for his work in Return of The Sectaurs was a television cartoon series the Jedi; on this film he worked with a staff developed almost exclusively to sell Trans- of 100. This film had over 200 CGI scenes, formers for Coleco. It’s about the distant compared to Jurassic Park’s 50. According planet Symbion, where warriors that are to Premiere (Nov. 1997), “more ammunition telepathically bonded to each other and to has been used on this shoot, claims weapons their insect companions fight to survive. In coordinator Rock Galotti, than on any in the this episode, Skall Island is invaded by Gen. history of film.” Spydrax of the Dark Domain, telebonded to insect companion Spiderfly and equipped Problems with the film are legion. As Rita John Hildebrand, with a venom tipped whip, who sends in Kempley points out “While it would have Regents professor fighter ant eggs that somehow escape the made more sense to bomb Klendathu with and director, notice of the fundamentally good but not- DDT, the grunts attack the resilient arthro- Arizona Research too-bright inhabitants of the Shining Realm. pods on foot with glorified M16s.” We Laboratories, The voice of Dargon was provided by Dan didn’t even do this in the Gulf War. The University of Gilvezan, who also provided the voice of trophic structure—unless they eat sand, Arizona, in his Dr. LePetomaine in the Rugrats. Read along there’s nothing on planet Klendathu for a 19th IFFF t-shirt, and ChaCha. with this educational cartoon, such dialogue food chain to be based on. The plot—how as “I’m surrounded by incompetent vermin!” do bugs which don’t use weapons or build and “Only a miracle could save them now.” structures or even wear clothing have the technology to direct an asteroid across the Our second film had the biggest budget and galaxy to hit Buenos Aires? The arachnids the most attractive cast. Unfortunately, it’s themselves—Tippett is an amateur paleon- one of those movies in which the reviews tologist who knows a lot about dinosaurs but are more entertaining than the film. This is a not about arachnids. On the up-side? Five loose adaptation of a 1959 novel by Robert minutes into the movie, a giant bug grabs Heinlein of the same name, directed by Paul somebody. No waiting till the third reel here. Verhoeven, shortly after his triumph in And no insects were killed in the making of Showgirls. It depicts the lives of high school the movie; the scene with kids stomping on graduates in a fascist future world about to Madagascar hissing cockroaches involved embark on military service when Earth is simulated killing and mustard packets. viciously attacked by a flying asteroid aimed at Buenos Aires by the arachnid denizens of First, though, was a real treat— Episode 41 the planet Klendathu. The film focuses on of Space Ghost Coast to Coast. Space Ghost the ensuing war with the bugs on their home was a 1960s Hanna Barbera cartoon featur- turf. This plot provided lots of opportunities ing a superhero space ghost and his two kid

Entomology Newsletter-43 IFFF-19 companions (and their pet monkey Blip). ingest alien blood and grow to enormous The show had a checkered history, moving proportions and get dispatched with, among (continued) networks during the 1970s when public out- other things, chainsaws). There must have cry put a stop to superhero animated car- been a lot of alien blood left over from that toons. It was resurrected by Cartoon Network, film because in Spiders, alien DNA is in- which redubbed and re-engineered episodes jected by government scientists into funnel to turn Space Ghost into an intergalactic talk web spiders on the space shuttle (because show host, with whom real celebrities would conditions of zero G are more like those on interact. Space Ghost has as an Ed McMahon- the unspecified alien’s unspecified home like sidekick, his former archrival, the evil planet) to develop a military super-weapon. Zorak, giant alien mantis. Episode 41 is The movie follows college journalist Zorak, Here Is Your Life! which recounts the Marcy’s efforts to get to the bottom of the life of the evil Mantis. Guests include Dr. government coverup before she and her two Maxcy Nolan, a genuine entomologist from (unfortunate) fellow journalists Slick and the University of Georgia, and Steve Arnold, Jake get killed by the resulting giant spiders. a genuine exterminator from Peachtree Pest Control. The episode recounts his life from Actors? No one you’re likely to have heard the moment he was born into a small family of. One crowd scene extra, however, is Dr. made even smaller by disgusting acts of Craig Reid, an alumnus of the Department, cannibalism to his present position today. wearing kung fu slippers and a t-shirt. He used everything he learned here at Illinois to Finally, last and perhaps least, was Spiders simulate fear as he fled from a 30-foot white (2000). Festival stalwarts will remember cardboard X that would be replaced by a director Gary Jones’s earlier effort in this CGI spider. genre—Mosquito (involving mosquitoes that

2002 Midwest Institute for Biological Control

THE 2002 Midwest Institute for Biological mechanisms and models of host location, Control short course, “Biology of Parasitic egg allocation and sex ratio, larval parasite Hymenoptera: Implications for Biological development, host immune response, and Control,” was held at the Illinois Natural application and use of parasitic Hymenop- History Survey and the University of Illinois tera for biological control. June 23-26, 2002. Midwestern scientists covered aspects of parasitoid biology that The Midwest Institute for Biological determine host range and parasitoid speci- Control is an ongoing educational project ficity and relate these topics to the use of developed by members of the North Central parasitic Hymenoptera for biological Regional Committee on Biological Control control. The Institute is designed for gradu- of Pests (NCR-125). Approximately 275 ate students, specialists and others inter- students have participated in the 11 Institute ested in biological control. courses held annually since 1991. This year’s organizers were Marianne Alleyne The 2002 Institute included laboratory and and Rob Wiedenmann (Illinois Natural classroom exercises covering evolution and History Survey). natural history of parasitic Hymenoptera,

Entomology Newsletter-44 2002 LAS Alumni Achievement Award

IT’S a pleasure to announce that John Law (Ph.D. 1957) received a 2002 LAS Alumni Achievement Award for outstanding professional achievement. Although Dr. Law earned his doctoral degree from Biochemis- try working with H.E. Carter, over his very distinguished 50-year career, the field in which his impact is most strongly felt is entomology. Dr. Law was a principal founder of the field of insect biochemistry. Beginning his research career at Harvard, he made major contributions Bettina Francis, to the understanding of lipid chemistry. By the study organisms, providing a model for entomol- May Berenbaum, mid-1960s, he became interested in biochemical ogy programs nationwide. The Center has been John Law, Susan processes in insects and made fundamental instrumental in showcasing the development of Fahrbach, Fred discoveries, including characterizing biosynthe- molecular entomology, by instituting the first Delcomyn, Sydney sis, transport, and metabolism of juvenile conference series in the area. Cameron, and Jim hormone, a critical hormone regulating metamor- Dr. Law has been actively engaged in promot- Whitfield at a phosis; elucidating pheromone biosynthesis in ing molecular entomology in the developed and recent reception in honey bees and other social insects; describing the developing world. He served, for example, Dr. Law’s honor. cocoonase, the enzyme that allow moths to on the governing board of the International emerge from their cocoons; identifying and Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology in characterizing vitellogenins, proteins involved in Nairobi, Kenya, the premier institution conducting egg production in a wide range of insect taxa; entomological studies in Africa, and as consultant characterizing proteins involved in lipid trans- to the Chinese Provincial Universities Develop- port throughout the hemolymph (blood) in a ment Project (1987-88). Collaborations with wide range of insect taxa; elucidating pigment Czech scientists earned him the Jan Evangelista synthesis and transport; and characterizing iron Purkinje Medal from the Academy of Sciences metabolism in insects. of the Czech Republic, and he received an Virtually every major developmental process honorary doctorate from Sofia University. in insects is characterized by distinctive bio- In the U.S., his contributions to the discipline chemistry and the details of that distinctive run the full gamut, encompassing service on biochemistry, in most cases, was first elucidated panels, editorial boards, study sections, advisory by Dr. Law. He continues to build on that boards, organizing committees, review teams, foundation, such that, today, insects serve as a and the like, and are too numerous to recount models for understanding many biochemical here. In terms of editorial posts alone, he has processes, even in vertebrates. served on the boards of over a dozen journals! Dr. Law has also assumed a leadership role The LAS Alumni Achievement Award is given within the academic community. At the Univer- to an individual who has “demonstrated the sity of Arizona, he served as head of Biochemis- values derived from a liberal arts and sciences try, director of the Biotechnology Center, and education.” As a member of the National associate dean of the Office of Instruction in the Academy of Sciences, a Fellow of the Entomo- College of Agriculture. logical Society of America, and a Fellow of the His greatest impact, from the perspective of American Association for the Advancement of entomology, has been to co-found the presti- Science, he has earned recognition and accolades gious Center for Insect Science. In the late from the national scientific community. It seems 1980s, Dr. Law recognized that entomology as a only appropriate that he has at last earned discipline had to be better integrated into the life recognition from his intellectual hometown; sciences. The Center brought together basic we’re proud of him and congratulate him! scientists with a shared interest in insects as

Entomology Newsletter-45 Alumni

John F. Anderson (Ph.D. 1963). Chasing, collect- (about 30 miles west of Chicago). I do health ing, and testing mosquitoes for viruses. Have assessments of Superfund waste sites and deal probably cultured more isolates of West Nile with many chemical problems, including virus than any other laboratory. I am also insecticide sampling in homes following overseeing the construction of a new building insecticide misapplications (in support of our which will have one floor designated as a structural pest control staff), mercury spills in biosafety level 3 laboratory. This laboratory homes and schools, indoor air problems, and will enable us to conduct transmission experi- groundwater contamination. I enjoy it because ments with mosquitoes and ticks. Other I like helping people, and I also like helping Entomology alums at the Connecticut Agricul- the environment. The variety also keeps things tural Experiment Stations are Mark McClure, interesting. Chris Maier, and Charlie Vossbrinck. At home, I like spending time with my wife, Theresa, and our children, Nathaniel (7) and Christine Armer (M.S. 1996). Jennifer (3). We enjoy biking (more than 2,000 My dissertation research is on miles last year), camping, cross-country skiing, biological control of the Colo- hiking, snowshoeing, and walking, and I also rado potato beetle with insect- still do my before-church 9-mile run on parasitic nematodes. I started out Sundays. This summer, we visited my mom in interested primarily in the Colorado. We hiked at Rocky Mountain organismal-level ecology of the National Park and biked in the Frisco-Dillon- system, but I’ve gotten involved Keystone Area on beautiful paved bike paths. Andy Chen and in chemical ecology to try to Our yard backs up to a forest preserve and the David Denlinger determine the chemical defenses of the Fox River Bike Trail, and we love it. Nathaniel Colorado potato beetle to attacking pathogens. has turned into quite a cyclist and can go 43 I am hoping to learn whether the potato beetle miles in a day on his 20-inch, 6-speed moun- sequesters toxic glycoalkaloids from the tain bike. He also likes racing (and leaving in potato plants on which it feeds. I have found the dust) 12-year-olds on the bike path, after that a toxic protein in the potato beetle’s he’s already cycled 20-30+ miles. He put more hemolymph negatively affects the nematodes, than 2,000 miles on his bike last year. He’s and am currently attempting identification of only 7–what will he do when he’s our size?!?! the protein to see if it is leptinotarsin, a protein Lance Armstrong watch out! He also enjoys that Ting Hsiao (another Entomology alum) soccer and recently surprised me by beating originally isolated. I successfully defended my me at chess. Jennifer is getting very fast on her dissertation research (focusing on the potential feet and may be following in Nathaniel’s foot- for biocontrol of the beetle with nematodes) steps. Recently, she got a bath from Grandma. several weeks ago, and am staying in town to So she wouldn’t get water in her eyes during continue research on the chemical aspects of hair washing, Grandma said, “Look for the the nematode-beetle interaction. Although the spider on the ceiling.” Jennifer looked up and first few years of rainy, gray days in Corvallis said, “There it is!” There was a spider on the didn’t favorably impress me, I’ve now actually ceiling! like the town; with my husband having a good job nearby and with my continuing to learn Murray Blum (B.S. 1952, M.S. 1953). I com- here, I just might stay for a while longer. I’d pleted a 1-year writing project for a UNESCO love to get back to the Midwest for a postdoc program on sex pheromones in plants and or faculty position, so you may be seeing more animals. You can’t believe what the seaweeds of me in the future! are doing! I developed a teaching program at a reserve for elementary school students in the Thomas A. Baughman (Ph.D. 1997). I have Andes of Ecuador (with wife Ann who did the continued in my 13th year as an environmental hard work). Teaching the Rangers about toxicologist with the Illinois Department of pheromones–in Spanish–was an uncertain step Public Health, West Chicago Regional Office for science! I acted as an insect tour guide at

Entomology Newsletter-46 various nature centers–what fun! I have also insect repellents, and environmental fate and been conducting research on insect com- effects of pesticides, including work on the Bt pounds as bird repellents, patented compounds protein-toxins in soil and crop residue. The for ant larval control, and am writing a paper recent opportunity to present the Alumni on why insects are wondrous. Seminar was a nice chance for me to meet most of the “new” faculty in the department Andrew C. Chen (M.S. 1972, Ph.D. 1976). I and to visit with several colleagues and faculty was transferred to Kerrville, TX, in January, I’ve known for many years. Our kids are in 2002, still doing the same kind of research their 20’s, and the dispersal of progeny is with ARS-USDA. Folks upstairs feel that I can progressing rapidly. I hope to see more be more effective with the group in Kerrville. friends at the Illinois alumni mixer at the That’s the way federal research operates. national ESA meetings in the future. Kerrville is in the beautiful Texas Hill Coun- try, nice place to retire to. But after living in Michael Cohen (Ph.D. 1991). After 8 fascinat- College Station for 23 years, it is hard to pull ing years at the International Rice Research up the roots and leave. Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines, I returned On the family side, my son Lyndon was to Canada in April 2002. I was fortunate to get married in December, 2001, a week after the one of the few entomology positions at a ESA annual meeting in San Diego. My Canadian university, in the Department of daughter-in-law, Carolyn, is a sweet young Biological Sciences at the University of lady in her last year of medical school at Alberta, Edmonton. Out of the frying pan, into UCLA. They live in Los Angeles, although the freezer, as it were...but it’s great to be back after 10 years he is getting tired of the big city. in Canada after many years as an expatriate. I They are trying to move to a smaller city for last lived here in 1986, before going to Illinois. Carolyn’s residency next year. My daughter, My research at IRRI focused on host plant Amber, went to Japan to teach English for a resistance to rice insect pests and resistance year after she graduated from Rice last year. management for Bt rice, but I’ve decided to She just got back in August and is now switch back to insect molecular biology for looking for a job. My wife Pat still works at my new research in Alberta. I’m teaching a Texas A&M. course in insect physiology and biochemistry for upper-level undergraduates, and so have Robert W. Clegern (M.S. 1966, Ph.D. 1972). been doing a lot of reminiscing lately about Since the 2000 Newsletter I continue to teach the physiology course we took one course in environmental science at at Illinois and those lectures University of Maryland University College, from Stanley, Judy, and Fred! consult in pest management, and buy/sell antiques. Linda’s and my time is also con- Lenny Dintenfass (B.S. 1980). sumed by the wonderful old house we are As I have not contributed to the renovating. It’s on the original Baltimore newsletter before, I’ll mention Washington Turnpike, and we are researching that after having received a B.S. its history as we find time (chains and shackles in entomology from Illinois in were found in the dirt floor of the basement by 1980, I went on to earn M.S. May Berenbaum a previous owner). It’s a very interesting house. (Texas Tech 1982) and Ph.D. and Joel Coats (University of Kentucky 1987) degrees in (distinguished Joel Coats (M.S. 1972, Ph.D. 1974). I’m entomology. Since 1988, I have worked for alumni seminar currently in my 4th year as chair of the what is now known as Dow AgroSciences, first speaker, 2002) Department of Entomology at Iowa State as a field biologist and later as a Discovery University. This year we had a comprehensive Research Biologist. After 14 years of being a departmental review, as well as some budget- practicing economic entomologist, I decided to ary challenges and discussions of reorganiza- apply my experience in a different way: I’m tion. I know many other departments have now a business analyst in Dow AgroSciences’ been facing similar challenges recently, and it R&D Information Management group, helps to discuss the questions with others who translating research users’ needs for company have experienced them. My toxicology research databases into language that our programmers group continues to address two main areas for can understand. investigation: plant-derived insecticides and

Entomology Newsletter-47 On the personal side, I live in Indianapolis Parks (1986-1990). I’ve authored more than 20 Alumni with my partner of 19 years, Katie Crossen, refereed research articles and many books, (continued) and our two cats (who are much better enter- guides, and websites published and paid for tainment than television). Other personal by various organizations and companies. I interests include playing violin in a commu- currently write an anatomy and physiology nity orchestra and repairing, restoring, and weekly column for a reserved (paid!) website. riding ’70s-era 10-speed bicycles. I am married (Henriette al Khuwayri) with two fine children, 9 and 17. Tobias F. Dirks (Ph.D. 1971). Perhaps some do not know that Judy passed away in 1989. This Susan (Wesley) Fisher (B.S. 1977, M.S. 1979). has been a tragic loss to the children and me. My research and teaching efforts are still in the She died of complications from asthma. In realm of environmental toxicology with empha- 1995, I finally became a grandfather. Now I sis on determining critical body residues for have six grandchildren–five boys and one girl. narcotic contaminants. I still work in exotic After Judy’s death, I put much effort into my species especially on zebra mussels and round job at Dalton State College to get a salary level gobies. Two years ago, I took on a half-time which would allow a comfortable retirement. administrative assignment, secretary of the In 1997 I retired after 31 years of teaching and University Senate. I am reminded of Stanley research. Now I am occupied with being a Friedman every time I have to convince the designated certified operator for wood- provost that he can’t redefine tenure without destroying organisms at Best Pest Control in consulting with the faculty. I am grateful that Dalton, GA. This involves consultation work my education at Illinois not only entailed and some sales activity as well as the responsi- academic excellence but grounding in the bility of meeting the standards of the license. academic values we hold dear. Otherwise, I still maintain a big garden, and On the home front, Scott and I are about to have the problems associated with owning celebrate our 21st wedding anniversary and David Evans rental properties. In 2000, I married Judy we’ve been busy: four biological kids and Darlene. We live in a home at the base of Blue three adopted special-needs kids who came Mountain and enjoy it very much. Judy oper- from various third world countries. It’s a total ates a custom draperies business, and I help immersion life but a good one. All the kids and her with the woodwork required for making I play the violin; we let Scott tag along as the cornice boards and hangings. piano player when we go on the road. We hope to see you on one of our many return trips to John L. Eaton (B.S. 1962, Ph.D. 1966). I retired C-U. from Virginia Tech January 1, 2002, after 18 years in entomology and 13 years in the Mohammed Farooqui (M.S. 1975, Ph.D. 1979). Graduate School. My entomological career I graduated from Entomology in 1979, where I was centered around studies of moth ocelli and worked with the late Robert L. Metcalf. My moth anatomy. In the Graduate School I had doctoral research focused on the metabolism the pleasure of being a part of the team that and toxicology of DDT analogs in house flies. conceived and implemented required elec- Since I graduated from Illinois, I served as a tronic theses and disserations (ETDs) at VT. postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas Many graduate schools around the country Medical Branch at Galveston for 5 years. I’ve have joined this effort, but I must add Illinois been at the University of Texas Pan American, is not yet among them. My retirement, which I Edinburg, since 1984. During the last 18 years, am enjoying tremendously, is kept busy with I have received many honors and awards, in- family, grandkids, put off projects, travel, and cluding the outstanding faculty award in pro- hunting and fishing. Peg and I continue to fessional achievement and the University of reside in our home overlooking the New River. Texas Chancellor’s award in teaching excellence. I served as the Director of Minority David L. Evans (Ph.D. 1978). I am currently Biomedical Research Support Program for 8 professor at Penn College. Previously I was at years. I brought in over $1.2 million in extra- the University of Maryland (1978-1981), the mural grants for research in toxicology. I have American University of Beirut (1981-1986), over 30 publications and 50 presentations. and chief ranger of the Massachusetts State Many of my students are now medical doctors

Entomology Newsletter-48 or Ph.D. scientists at many institutions. Cur- position with APHIS and rently I am serving as professor and chair of moved into the totally different the Department of Biology. culture here in New England. The job involves control of Frank A. Fraembs (M.S. 1958). My wife, invasive exotics like the Asian Janet, and I volunteer at Lincoln Log Cabin longhorn beetle, but includes State Historic Site. The Visitor Center is now work on controlling the western complete and is of world-class quality. I invite spread of Japanese beetle and you all to come to spend some time in 1845! gypsy moth populations. And Harry Bottenberg in addition to the busy summer research and Mickey Susan Halbert (M.S. 1975, Ph.D. 1979). The season, in June I bought a house and got McGuire Florida State Collection of Arthropods is very married to Jenny Forsberg. It’s been hectic, but thankful to have received a large grant from we’re both enjoying life here on the Cape— NSF to vastly improve our storage capacity for come by and visit some time! insects. During the past year, we have been sorting our previous overflow of identified Eric S. McCloud (Ph.D. 1995). I have been at specimens into their new homes. The project the Department of Biology, University of has already greatly improved accessibility of Southern Indiana for the last 5 years, where I valuable material. Florida continues to see teach a wide range of courses including more than its share of new exotic insect introductory botany, zoology, and principles of species. Although most of our identifications biology, as well as ecology, entomology, plant are routine, every now and then, something physiology, and environmental science. I’m new shows up. Identification and decisions currently developing a course on the science about management or containment strategies and ethics of global change with another can be challenging. faculty member in the philosophy department. My research continues to focus on inducible Drew Hissong (M.S. 1991). After completing plant responses to herbivores. For the past my Ph.D. in molecular biology at the Univer- couple of years, I’ve been involved in road sity of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, I obtained running and I will run my first marathon in a law degree from Case Western Reserve Chicago during October. At home, I have a University in Cleveland, OH, in 1999. I have Bonsai and a fat, lazy cat. been an associate with the intellectual prop- erty law firm of Sughrue Mion, PLLC, for the Bruce A. McPheron (M.S. 1980, Ph.D. 1987). past 3 years. I specialize in the preparation and In the past 2 years, I have made a transition prosecution of patent applications in the fields from my academic home in Penn State’s of biotechnology, chemistry and pharmaceuti- Department of Entomology to an administra- cals. I prepare legal opinions for clients and tive role as Associate Dean for Research and assist clients in interference proceedings Graduate Education in Penn State’s College of before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Agricultural Sciences. I have maintained my as well as litigation in jurisdictions throughout laboratory and still advise two Ph.D. candi- the U.S. dates on genetic/ecological aspects of tephritid fruit flies. However, I’ve now given up my John M. Kingsolver (M.S. 1956, Ph.D. 1961). I teaching role (general entomology for under- retired from USDA in 1990 and now am a graduates, a general education course in volunteer and research associate of the Florida entomology, and insect taxonomy, borrowing Department of Agriculture in Gainesville. I heavily from the style of the late Dr. McLeod). help curate the enormous collection of beetles I will miss the teaching aspect. in their museum and do a little research on My wife, Marilyn, works in International beetle classification especially in the family Agriculture at Penn State and spent last Bruchidae (seed beetles). January in Moscow and the Ukraine. She looks forward to going back this winter. Son Phillip Lewis (B.S. 1985, MS. 1989). After a 3- Neale is a senior at Millersville University, year postdoc investigating weed biocontrol majoring in molecular biology and minoring agents in Texas with ARS, I’ve made a number in psychology and biochemistry. He continues of big changes. In May I began a ‘permanent’ to run competitively, having been all-conference

Entomology Newsletter-49 in the 800-m and 1500-m for the past 2 years. Farmer’s Market. We love to go camping and Alumni Daughter Brenna is in the 8th grade and loves have explored the Sierras, the Monterey Bay (continued) music (piano, saxophone, guitar at present) area, the California redwoods, and the volca- and art. noes and rivers of Oregon. My husband Mike is currently a computer programmer with the David C. Newton (Ph.D. 1967) is Vice President College of Agriculture at UC-Davis and was Emeritus for Personnel, Connecticut State formerly in international agriculture develop- University. In retirement I do occasional labor ment with the Peace Corps in Nepal. We also arbitration cases and maintain two not-for- have two labrador retrievers. profit web sites. Alan Schroeder (Ph.D. 1990). From 1999 to Bill Rapp (M.S. 1945). I have been retired since 2002, I traveled to Namibia three times, 1983 and am busy as I was when I worked! We Tanzania twice, Rome three times, Madagascar do quite a lot of traveling. I still do a lot of twice, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Senegal, South collecting in the Finger Lakes regions. Most of Africa, Botswana, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, my research and study is on Burma, Thailand, Laos, Canada, Mexico, spiders and terrestrial isopods. I Nicaragua, Brazil, and Bolivia. Half of this have recently published several was for fun and half for work. I am still trying papers on terrestrial isopods. to get into Bhutan. Recently, I was seen flying a 1946 Stinson ‘Tail-Dragger’ over glaciers Hilary Reno (Ph.D. 2000). I and ice field in Alaska, landing on remote completed my M.D. in May 2002. beaches in Prince William Sound, and catching Just prior to graduation from silver salmon and rainbow trout in the wilder- medical school, I was selected as ness. I actively maintain my pilot’s license, Kelly Cook and an exchange student by University and enjoy aerobatic flying. I also dance semi- Chris Pierce of Illinois-Chicago College of Medicine. I professionally with a Mexican folkloric group. completed a rotation in palliative care/hospice at I have a complete Mariachi outfit and we King’s College, London, U.K. I started my perform dances from Guadalajara, the heart residency in internal medicine at Washington and soul of Mexican culture. I won two awards University Barnes Jewish Hospital in June. I during this time: a Presidential Citation for have started making contact with infectious Outstanding Achievement from the University disease faculty and local researchers in of Delaware (where I earned my B.S. and arboviruses and malaria. My husband Shaun is M.S.), in recognition of exemplary profes- teaching English at St. Louis community sional and public service activities; and an colleges. Outstanding Merit Award from USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, Office of Sherri Sandberg-Ransom (B.S. 1980, M.S. International Research Programs, where I 1987). I moved to Davis, CA, after completing served at the International Center for Maize my M.S. with May Berenbaum in 1987. I and Wheat Improvement (where I learned received my teaching credentials in 1988 and Mexican folkloric dance as the only Gringo in have taught ever since. I teach biology and a our 24-member dance group). I worked on course that is a mixture of biology and chemis- agricultural research programs and locust try that has an environmental education focus. plagues in Africa from 1991 to 2001 for our I have been part of a program called FARMS government. In 2001, I left the government that accepts six students from Davis High to after 11 years of service, to follow my fiancée, learn about sustainable agriculture through Dr. Sonia Ortega, as she advances her career as monthy field trips and a research project. I am an NSF Program Director, on detail to the also part of another program called SLEWS University of New Mexico. In Washington, at that I take 30 students to work on a farmer’s NSF, she ran the Presidential Faculty Fellows land to do habitat restoration and water quality Award, the Director’s GK12 Program, and the improvement projects. We do this five times NATO Postdoctoral Fellowships Program, over the school year. I have two children: a among others. She now works with the NSF- daughter, Linnea (9), and a son, Sylvan (5). funded Long Term Ecological Research They both love insects and seek out corn ear networking initiative at UNM, on education worms in the sweet corn we buy at the Davis and international issues. Sonia is also a pilot

Entomology Newsletter-50 (she got me into flying) and performs Mexi- ing for colleges to attend this fall. Kate (15) is can folkloric dances with me. We’ll be in concentrating on social matters and has put Albuquerque until at least September 2003, things like homework on the side burner. and plan to get married out here. I started a Madeline, in 8th grade, is doing well in her consulting business, Noetecs International studies. Henry has recently celebrated his 10th Consulting, which I am still getting off the birthday and is progressing well. He has ground. Sonia and I have 12 wonderful nieces developed a charming personality but can be and nephews, two god-children, two step- stubborn at times. My wife, Bettina, has children, and one grand niece, all of whom we recently quit her job as a research associate in visit as much as possible and we spoil as much the Department of Pathology at Yale Univer- as we can. And, we are supporting one niece sity to spend more time organizing family in her Ph.D. program in Iowa. We love matters. I just turned 50 and it is going well so visitors, and if any of you will be traveling far. I got a recliner and spent about 30 minutes through Albuquerque in 2002 or 2003, stop by listening to classical music in it. I guess now I and visit! Nuestra casa es su casa. You are need a new bicycle. Work at the Connecticut most welcome. Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven is going well. I can dedicate my time to any Keith R. Solomon (M.S. 1972, Ph.D. 1973). research that I care to undertake and I am Sandra and I celebrated the arrival of their first teaching part-time at Quinnipiac University grandchild in January 2002, a daughter born which is one of the many institutes of higher to Fiona. This year has been a very busy year learning nearby. I guess we are all pretty with family activities and enjoying our new happy but now as things are settling down we grandchild, but has also been a very interest- grow sad thinking that our children will be ing and stimulating year in terms of science. leaving someday. I guess the key is to enjoy Research is moving in new directions in the present. assessing the potential impacts and risks associated with contaminants in surface Phillip L. Watson (Ph.D. 1979). I have been a waters, including pesticides and pharmaceuti- professor at Ferris State Univer- cals. I was very pleased to receive the Ameri- sity since fall 1981. My teaching can Chemical Society International Award for responsibilities include seven research in agrochemicals at their 223rd different courses–entomology, national meeting in Orlando, FL, on April 8, natural history of invertebrates, 2002. This meeting was also an opportunity to forensic biology, environmental renew old acquaintances with alumni from biology, insect pest management, Illinois, including Joel Coats and Herb Nigg. field studies in horticulture, and ecology. I have received two Susanne Timmermann, a postdoctoral alum of Fulbright fellowships, one to the Berenbaum lab (1998), is a supervisor of Botswana and one to Vietnam. I quality control for GAB-Biotechnology in have also been involved with Germany. The firm does environmental testing setting up research and teaching cooperations Dennis Fielding of pest control technologies. with other U.S. universities and institutions in and Gail several countries, Costa Rica, Belize, Colom- Kampmeier F.R. Voorhees (M.S. 1968, Ph.D. 1969). Hi to bia, South Africa, Botswana, and Vietnam. I all my friends and UI people everywhere! We currently have one textbook, Quick Notes in all know that careers change repeatedly–I have Environmental Science, that is published by not worked as an entomologist in many years. Kendall Hunt. My wife Maureen is a professor I am currently supervisor of the Medical and librarian in the Michigan College of Technology Program at Central Missouri State Optometry at Ferris State University. We have University. two sons: Alex, who is a sophomore in college, and Scott, who is trying to readjust to life as a Charles R. Vossbrinck (Ph.D. 1987). The junior in a U.S. high school after our recent Vossbrinck family is doing OK. Our oldest extended stay in Vietnam. daughter, Alice, who was born when I was a graduate student in Stanley Friedman’s lab, is a senior in high school this year. She is look-

Entomology Newsletter-51 Obituary

Kenneth Lee Knight died on 8 July 2001 after a Ken was reassigned to Camp Lejeune Marine period of ill health in his retirement residence in Corps Base, Jacksonville, NC, as the Executive Palm Harbor, FL. With his passing, one of the Officer of the USN Medical Field Research premier mosquito taxonomists of the 20th cen- Laboratory. At the end of this tour of duty, Ken tury, and an outstanding office and gentleman in retired in 1962 to accept a position as associate the finest U.S. Navy tradition was lost. professor in the Dept. of Zoology and Entomol- Ken was born on a farm near Saunemin, IL, on ogy, Iowa State University, Ames. He taught 16 March 1915. His undergraduate education courses in medical entomology, mentored gradu- was received at Illinois Normal University (now ate students, and continued research on mosquito Illinois State University), where in 1937 he re- oviposition site selection previously initiated at ceived a B.Ed. degree in biology. At the Univer- Camp Lejeune. He was soon promoted to pro- sity of Illinois, Urbana, Ken earned M.S. and fessor. Also, while at Iowa State, Ken began Ph.D. degrees in entomology, in 1939 and 1941, collaboration with the Army-supported South respectively. East Asia Mosquito Project, U.S. National In the summer of 1941, Ken joined the Navy Museum, on taxonomic studies of aedine mos- as an Ensign and was sent to the Malaria Survey quitoes of that area of the world. Unit, Marine Base, New River, North Carolina In 1966, Ken joined the Dept. of Entomology, (now Camp Lejeune) for training duty. In June Univ. of Georgia, Athens, as a professor to teach 1942, he was ordered to Efate Island, New insect systematics and to serve as curator of the Hebrides as the entomologist for the first WWII Fattig Insect Collection. In 1968, he received an malaria control unit to be based in the South offer to be the head of the Dept. of Entomology Pacific. Ken was Area Entomologist in charge of at North Carolina State University and he and malaria control in the New Hebrides and Solomon family moved to Raleigh that year. As head, Ken Islands, including Guadalcanal, until 1943. In continued work on mosquito systematics and 1944, Ken rotated stateside to the Bureau of biology through advising graduate students. Medicine and Surgery, Department of the Navy, Additional extensions of his work with mosquito Washington, D.C., and was assigned to Naval systematics came through the influence of Medical Research Unit No. 2. Working with Dr. colleagues. The eminent mosquito systematist Lloyd Rozeboom, Ken completed extensive Dr. John N. Belkin encouraged Knight to issue a taxonomic studies of the Anopheles punctulatus newsletter on mosquito systematics, which complex of malaria vectors in the South Pacific eventually became the American Mosquito and the mosquito fauna of the Philippines. Control Association’s Mosquito Systematics, the After the war, Ken brought his extensive mos- principal outlet for publication of taxonomic quito collections to the U.S. National Museum studies of the Culicidae. In 1971, Ken in where he worked in the laboratory of Alan Stone. collaboration with Alan Stone began a revision Together, they described many new mosquito of the 1959 synoptic catalog of mosquitoes, and species and produced the monumental taxo- a new catalog was published in 1977 and a nomic reference, “A Synoptic Catalogue of the supplement volume was issued in 1978 through Mosquitoes of the World.” Additional assign- the Thomas Say Foundation of the Entomologi- ments from 1946 to 1954 included the National cal Socity of America. Another colleague, Dr. Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD and Botha de Meillon, encouraged Ken to pursue his Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3 in Cairo, longtime interest in mosquito morphology by Egypt. In 1954, Ken was reassigned to Washing- developing a comprehensive glossary of ana- ton, D.C., to oversee all of the Navy’s vector tomical terms for mosquitoes. With support from control programs. Additionally, he was assigned the NIH’s National Library of medicine, Ken and responsibility for recruitment and detailing of the postdoctoral research associate Dr. Ralph officer scientists of the Medical Service Corps of Harbach published the Taxonomists’ Glossary of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Dept. of Mosquito Anatomy in 1980. This reference is still the Navy. considered to be the most authoritative source Following a 4-year tour in Washington, during for information on mosquito anatomy. which time he was promoted to Captain, USN,

Entomology Newsletter-52 Dr. Kenneth Knight retired as head of quitoes, Dr. Knight was awarded the AMCA’s Entomology at N.C. State University in 1980. Medal of Honor in 1982 and the John N. Belkin During his career, Dr. Knight published over Memorial Award in 1983. For his career-long 120 peer-reviewed research articles, numerous involvement in the affairs of the ESA, he was book chapters and authored several books. He elected as a Honorary Member in 1983. served as President of the American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) in 1973-74 and Adapted (with permssion) from obituary by President of the Entomological Society of Charles S. Apperson, 2002, Amer. Ent. 48:189- America (ESA) in 1975. For his work on mos- 190.

Donors to Entomology 2001-2002

Abbott Laboratories William & June Luckmann Roy & Mary Lou Barker Marshall & Ernestine Magner Angel Berrios-Ortiz Bruce & Marilyn McPheron John & Tamara Bouseman Edward Mockford Micou F. Browne Karen & Patrick O’Hayer Burroughs Wellcome Fund Stephen Parshall William & Elaine Campbell Lance Peterson & Janice Knoke Hang & Li-Chun Chio Kurt & Annemarie Redborg Robert & Linda Clegern Craig & Silvia Reid Joel & Rebecca Coats Charles & June Ross David & Judith Denlinger Aubrey & Rosa Scarbrough Paul & Nora Doerder Daniel & Colette Shankland Dow AgroSciences LLC James Sternburg John & Margaret Eaton Daniel & Linda Strickman Eli Lilly & Company Foundation Christine Wagener-Hulme & Michael Susan Fahrbach & Walter Robinson Hulme Harland, Jr. & Clara Fowler Barbara Walton Robert & Mary Lou Harwood Walter & Judith Wormser International Society for Arboriculture WPWR-TV Channel 50 Foundation Gail & Daniel Kampmeier Ellen & Dave Yerger Chuiying Li & Runlin Ma

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Entomology Newsletter-54